I'm going for "grand deal to fuck over Social Security, no middle class tax rises", with a small side bet on "everyone goes over the cliff, world economy goes into recession, Obama doesn't care".
What about upper class tax raises? I'm reckoning we're not going to get one of those, or an appreciable one.
Quote from: Cain on December 29, 2012, 11:06:26 AM
I'm going for "grand deal to fuck over Social Security, no middle class tax rises", with a small side bet on "everyone goes over the cliff, world economy goes into recession, Obama doesn't care".
The last one ended already? I didn't notice.
Quote from: Juana Go? on December 29, 2012, 10:38:58 PM
What about upper class tax raises?
:lulz:
Quote from: :regret: on December 29, 2012, 11:02:13 PM
The last one ended already? I didn't notice.
Worse recession then. Sorry, I must have forgotten this is "pointless pedantic nitpicking week" on PD/
Possibly less funding where i work which would suck.
Quote from: Juana Go? on December 29, 2012, 10:38:58 PM
What about upper class tax raises? I'm reckoning we're not going to get one of those, or an appreciable one.
I think we'll get a small tax increase on the upper class, since that has been a huge campaign issue for the democrats. On the other hand the whole thing with the guns may have swung public opinion enough back to the right that the Republicans figure they don't have to compromise on that at all.
My vote is that this was a preplanned scenario so that Austerity measures could be enforced on the USA, and Obama and the Democrats in the senate and the congress would get to blame the republicans, and the republicans would be able to go back to their constituencies and say "See? we stuck to our Guns and didn't approve Obama's stinking tax hike on the rich!!!".
If members of either party officially pushed for Austerity measures in the US, they'd guarantee that they wouldn't get re-elected.
We're all fucked. Real simple. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYGCpGzFWh0)
Quote from: insideout on December 31, 2012, 04:03:41 PM
My vote is that this was a preplanned scenario so that Austerity measures could be enforced on the USA, and Obama and the Democrats in the senate and the congress would get to blame the republicans, and the republicans would be able to go back to their constituencies and say "See? we stuck to our Guns and didn't approve Obama's stinking tax hike on the rich!!!".
If members of either party officially pushed for Austerity measures in the US, they'd guarantee that they wouldn't get re-elected.
Members of the Republican Party
have been openly pushing for austerity measures. Austerity is their program.
(For the sake of argument, let's accept the common belief in US political circles that military spending does not count as part of the budget, as the military runs on Magic Pixie Dust).
That said, I don't disagree. Obama's a straight neoliberal on economic issues, and many neoliberals are quite outspoken on the need for cutting government spending and paying off debt as the Engine Of Prosperity. Because of course, the path to riches historically has involved putting all productive surplus towards paying off debt, and no nation or continent has ever come to ruin by attempting this.
What's amusing (for a given value of "amusing"), the fiscal cliff that the GOP is whining about is pure austerity. The entire goal of the cliff is to reduce the deficit. But reducing the deficit so quickly and dramatically, will fuck everything. So the GOP is having a lovely bout of cognitive dissonance by arguing against austerity.
Say hello to the guy dishing out the slop at the soup line, humans.
I mean, until today, I figured the GOP had enough in the way of survival instincts to back down on this, and walk small for a while until they had the ammunition to run it back at the dems.
But they don't. They're really THAT DUMB. And so say "HOWDY!" to unemployment rates in the 20-30% range.
America: Fat, stupid, and blissfully unaware.
Oh, and sorry to all you foreign types that are going to get ass-fucked by this. We can't help it, we're retarded.
Make a liar out of me. :lulz:
http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/31/16268297-obama-deal-is-within-sight-not-yet-complete?lite
McConnell just folded.
Apparently, Obama folded, too.
There's a new "tax deal". So nothing's actually FIXED, we've just put the horrible explosion on hold for a bit.
And next up: The Debt Ceiling!
Quote from: BBCDemocrats are said to have offered to extend tax cuts on couples earning up to $450,000 (£277,000). But divisions remain over how to tackle spending.
QuoteAgreeing to a $450,000 threshold ($400,000 for couples) would be a notable compromise by Democrats, analysts say.
The party previously only wanted tax rate extensions for earnings under $200,000 (£123,000) for individuals and $250,000 (£154,000) for couples.
Well, looks like I'm at least half right.
Soooo.... is right now a good time, or a bad time to be buying a house?
Quote from: Emo Howard on December 31, 2012, 08:23:57 PM
Soooo.... is right now a good time, or a bad time to be buying a house?
I'm gonna say "good", if you have a fairly secure job. Inflation is your friend when you owe on something.
Well, sorta.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-20879174
QuoteThe US will miss a midnight deadline and head over the "fiscal cliff", after the House of Representatives said it would hold no vote on Monday.
Earlier, President Barack Obama said a deal to avoid the steep tax rises and spending cuts is "within sight" - but not yet done.
Senators are said to be "very, very close" to a deal on tax rates but remain divided over spending cuts.
Tuesday is a public holiday in the US, so no immediate effects will be felt.
Lawmakers are expected to return to Capitol Hill on Tuesday for final talks and possible votes on a compromise bill. The Senate could still vote on Monday evening.
Political theater is cool.
That'll teach Obama to hurt the Republicans feelings (http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2012/12/31/16270289-obama-a-deal-is-in-sight-but-its-not-done):
QuotePerhaps the most noteworthy thing about the brief remarks was the Republican apoplexy that followed. Apparently, the president's tone hurt GOP lawmakers' feelings — so much so that many Republicans are now arguing that a fiscal agreement mail fail because Obama made them feel bad.
Seriously. That's what they're saying. Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) said on the Senate floor that the president's tone represented "heckling," and as a consequence, he "lost some votes" for a compromise deal. Soon after, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) also said Obama was too mean and made Congress feel bad.
Quote from: CHUMP on December 31, 2012, 08:28:34 PM
Quote from: Emo Howard on December 31, 2012, 08:23:57 PM
Soooo.... is right now a good time, or a bad time to be buying a house?
I'm gonna say "good", if you have a fairly secure job. Inflation is your friend when you owe on something.
I think it's fairly secure.
It's been a couple of years since the last time they mentioned the possibility of outsourcing us to China, anyway.
That level of pathetic FAIL is gonna eat right through the marble floors.
Quote from: Emo Howard on December 31, 2012, 11:26:53 PM
Quote from: CHUMP on December 31, 2012, 08:28:34 PM
Quote from: Emo Howard on December 31, 2012, 08:23:57 PM
Soooo.... is right now a good time, or a bad time to be buying a house?
I'm gonna say "good", if you have a fairly secure job. Inflation is your friend when you owe on something.
I think it's fairly secure.
It's been a couple of years since the last time they mentioned the possibility of outsourcing us to China, anyway.
Interest rates are as low as they are going to be for a long time and will start to inch up again within the next two to three years.
Quote from: Rev. What's-His-Name? on December 31, 2012, 11:32:54 PM
Quote from: Emo Howard on December 31, 2012, 11:26:53 PM
Quote from: CHUMP on December 31, 2012, 08:28:34 PM
Quote from: Emo Howard on December 31, 2012, 08:23:57 PM
Soooo.... is right now a good time, or a bad time to be buying a house?
I'm gonna say "good", if you have a fairly secure job. Inflation is your friend when you owe on something.
I think it's fairly secure.
It's been a couple of years since the last time they mentioned the possibility of outsourcing us to China, anyway.
Interest rates are as low as they are going to be for a long time and will start to inch up again within the next two to three years.
Yeah, it could even be the best time to buy a home in my adult lifetime, but worst case scenarios always seem more likely when you have the papers in front of you.
I should probably just stop thinking about whether it's the right time, and just focus on whether it's the right price for the right property.
Invest in milk. BUY BUY BUY:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/28/us-farm-bill-dairy-idUSBRE8BR0JQ20121228
QuoteThe proposed extension to farm legislation that expired in September would be for "some months" but for less than a year, the source said.
If an extension is passed the United States would avoid reverting to 1949 "permanent law" and a potential spike in the retail price of milk to as much as $8 a gallon in 2013.
The Senate passed its new five-year farm bill in June, and the House Agriculture Committee followed with a version in July.
But the House bill, with large cuts in food stamp funding for lower-income Americans, has never been brought to a vote by the full House. The Senate and House remain far apart on the issues of food stamps and crop subsidies.
Many estimate that U.S. retail milk prices could rise sharply in 2013 – to some $6 to $8 per gallon from the current level of about $3.53 – if the government reverts to 1949 statutes that would require USDA to buy and store dairy products at inflated prices.
There's an agreement, of sorts.
No details yet. Has to be voted on first.
Apocalypse Postponed.
Fiscalgeddon hits in two months now, assuming no agreement in Congress.
Quote from: Cain on January 02, 2013, 01:35:24 PM
Apocalypse Postponed.
Fiscalgeddon hits in two months now, assuming no agreement in Congress.
This is getting kind of old, isn't it?
Just a bit. First Y2K, then the Mayans, then Congress. If the Apocalypse were a pizza, we'd all be owed the next one for free.
Quote from: Cain on January 02, 2013, 01:40:24 PM
Just a bit. First Y2K, then the Mayans, then Congress. If the Apocalypse were a pizza, we'd all be owed the next one for free.
More like the next 10 for free. I have been let down so many times now, I don't care if armageddon ever happens. Hell, you didn't even mention the millenialists, and I for one can't blame you.
Strangely enough, I was going to say "or the next 10", but decided to grab a drink instead.
I also didn't mention the 6/6/6 bunch, or the Iranian Tanker of Doom people.
http://nbcpolitics.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/01/02/16298460-fiscal-cliff-compromise-leaves-few-satisfied?lite
Now I know the deal was as good as we could accomplish.
Nobody's happy with it.
Who the hell thought asking Richard Haas about the financial situation was a good idea? It's not worth asking him about foreign policy, and he's the president of the CFR.
Quote from: Cain on January 02, 2013, 04:54:45 PM
Who the hell thought asking Richard Haas about the financial situation was a good idea? It's not worth asking him about foreign policy, and he's the president of the CFR.
Well, when NOBODY knows what to do, what's the harm in asking an idiot?
I just bristle at the idea of Mr "Lets use the Iranian Green Movement as an Armed Resistance" being taken seriously about anything, ever.
Quote from: Cain on January 02, 2013, 04:58:21 PM
I just bristle at the idea of Mr "Lets use the Iranian Green Movement as an Armed Resistance" being taken seriously about anything, ever.
Well, we can just take into account the fact that the people taking him seriously are idiots, too. Basically, you have a mindless media asking mindless assholes impossible questions.
I appreciate the humor in this notion, the same as I appreciate the humor in watching teabagger po'buckers propose ideas to
fuck themselves up the ass fix the economy.
The Wall Street Journal seems to be making bad suggestions. That surprises me since I remembered them being reasonably sensible when the Republicans were pulling their initial hostage taking over the debt ceiling.
Quote from: Pergamos on January 02, 2013, 08:47:59 PM
The Wall Street Journal seems to be making bad suggestions. That surprises me since I remembered them being reasonably sensible when the Republicans were pulling their initial hostage taking over the debt ceiling.
You're on crack. The WSJ has been a Murdock rag for years.
lolz
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2013_01/fire_next_time042138.php
QuoteSo the supposed moment of bipartisan satori that supposedly culminated with the House's action last night has increased the already formidable sentiment within both parties to make the upcoming confrontation One for the Ages. I would guess that by sundown today about 95% of the Republicans in both Houses who voted for the "cliff" bill will have made public statements swearing bloody vengeance on the Welfare State in exchange for an increase in the debt limit. And even before the deal was sealed in the Senate, the president was already vowing not to make the concessions Republicans will demand.
I think my favorite part of all this is how Boehner pissed off Peter King (which granted is probably really easy to do) by not taking up the Sandy disaster aid bill before the session ended.
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on January 02, 2013, 08:50:54 PM
Quote from: Pergamos on January 02, 2013, 08:47:59 PM
The Wall Street Journal seems to be making bad suggestions. That surprises me since I remembered them being reasonably sensible when the Republicans were pulling their initial hostage taking over the debt ceiling.
You're on crack. The WSJ has been a Murdock rag for years.
I may have had them confused with some other mouthpiece for the upper class.
Quote from: Rev. What's-His-Name? on January 03, 2013, 01:31:14 AM
I think my favorite part of all this is how Boehner pissed off Peter King (which granted is probably really easy to do) by not taking up the Sandy disaster aid bill before the session ended.
I think the House GOP have made an enemy for life in Peter King. And he's not wrong when he talks about how New York is constantly funding projects out of state, but as soon as they want some aid, suddenly the House Republicans are nowhere to be seen.