The spending and tax proposals of the Gang of 6

meet up location:

I am generally at a loss to pick pleasant, low-key Manhattan destinations.

There's a great American microbrew bar near my office but it gets crowded sometimes.

I'd prefer a place in Midtown or southward towards Brooklyn.

Anything low key with decent beer is ok with me.

I'm near Penn Station, but don't have any favorite places near me.

We could do the Heartland Brewery place on Union Sq..... or really anywhere.

Heartland brewery seems fine, especially if they still have cheese stuffed jalapenos.

Whynot, you should get the Idea-Having medal here, I know I have nothing constructive to add to this. Did we set a time?

how about 6:30?

Mrs. Whynot states that she will be able to join us.

Yay. I get to meet more people.

I'm by Penn too, prob not gonna drink too much so anything is fine with me

What day is this happening?

Aug 3rd, Wednesday, 6:30.

http://www.heartlandbrewery.com/Union_Square.php

...We could also do the Noodle place next to the Heartland brewery.

I like Heartland.

6:30 is good.

This is tomorrow right?

yup

Not to get all cloak and dagger here, but is there some way I'm going to be able to identify Mr. and Mrs. Whynot, Cool The Kid, and Boygabriel in real life sitting at a table or bar at the Heartland?

see your PM

"what you see in PM, stays in PM."

I will burn my screen right after reading the clandestine message.

Where's my PM!?

sent just now

tateinbk said:

Not to get all cloak and dagger here, but is there some way I'm going to be able to identify Mr. and Mrs. Whynot, Cool The Kid, and Boygabriel in real life sitting at a table or bar at the Heartland?

I look like the opposite of a Republican, if that helps.

To some he may look the opposite of a republican, but not to all.

I will state CTK looks nothing like these two republicans (Allen West and Colin Powell).

CTK is taller and thinner.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allen_West_(politician)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colin_Powell

I'm not gonna be able to hang for long. Maybe just an hour, if that

So, over a year has passed, and no deal has been reached. The various sides have just argued. Obama was re-elected.

The automatic cuts and spending increases created by the "Gang of 6" are due to go into effect on Jan 1.

...The media refers to the package as the Fiscal Cliff

Now that you are up to speed, do you have any opinions?

Ready?

From my understanding, it would be in the best interest of those (Democrats?) who want the top taxed more. Once everyone's taxes go up Obama and other Dems can very quickly get in and lower the taxes for the middle and lower classes. Then they get people earning over $250,000 to have increased taxes instead of those making over a million like Boehner thought about bringing to vote before he got all nervous about the tea partiers demoting him.

Neither Boehner or McConnel are going to do diddly because they can't have it on record that the voted to raise taxes, ever, even if they're getting a really good deal. That's what makes going "over the cliff" so genius. Once it's done, what Republican will not vote to enact tax breaks for the lower and middle class?

Get out your parachutes, this could be fun.

A part of me wonders whether they won't pull off a last minute compromise so they can look competent, and maintain the country's bond rating.

However, I am not optimistic about us avoiding the cliff.

I think we will go over it.

-If the cuts on on social programs inflict too much pain, the public will have to increase taxes to restore the spending. They will do this by electing Democrats in 2014.

-If the tax increases are too large, we will end up with a Republican house and Senate in 2014.

Of course, the increased taxes and decreased spending will stifle the economy. That is the wildcard, because it may snowball into a recession.

To sum up: I find it a little scary, but certainly not devastating. We are not going to be third world country as a result of these cuts. I think it is good for people to realize that there is a correlation between taxes and government services.

The "fiscal cliff" (a fiscal bluff really) was a deal agreed to by the Republicans (and Democrats in Congress) with respect to the debt ceiling and produced this artificial crisis. Republicans bet on Obama losing the election. Since he didn't, they are bound to the devilish pact they made in 2011. Now they must either compromise or else watch taxes rise across the board (and take an enormous political hit). At the moment, they are behaving like spoilt children, stamping their feet and refusing to take a dose of their own medicine.

It seems the Republicans do not perceive the political risks to be insurmountable.

It is to the benefit of each party (but not the nation) for each to blame the other for not compromising.

I'm just letting people know that this is a one time deal.

The next time we reach the debt limit and have this fiscal cliff drama, I am not going to care as much. So, enjoy this limited amount of excitement from me while it lasts.

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/01/big-lebowski-explains-the-fiscal-cliff.html

Soaking the rich?

http://ibo.nyc.ny.us/cgi-park2/?p=244

It is that time again:

Fiscal drama at the federal level. Have they been cornered into cuts, and/or taxation?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/25/sequester-cuts_n_2759076.html

Blah blah, blabity cuts. BLAh entitlements blablablah. Blah blabit blah.....

Let me know when it's over and what's been decided.

Yup.

I still kinda hope there are some big cuts. That way, people will again understand the relationship between taxation and spending.

Deficit spending confuses them.