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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsSalon: Why 2013 is going to be awful
from Salon.com:
Why 2013 is going to be awful
Here's to a year of austerity, dysfunction, lousy Obama negotiations -- and no "Louie"
By Alex Pareene
The good news is 2012 is over and will never happen again. The bad news is, now its 2013. Heres why Im not holding out hope for a great year in politics:
Austerity
Its coming. Congress will obsess over crafting a long-term deficit deal no matter what happens with the tax rates and the sequester. In all likelihood, well get regressive budget cuts at all levels of government, plus, for good measure, tax hikes not just on the rich but on working people. The well-funded Fix the Debt monsters will still demand massive cuts to Social Security and Medicare. Republicans are justifiably confident that they can use the debt ceiling to force more spending cuts less than a month from now. If all of this sinks the still-sluggish economic recovery, thatll be just one more sign that we need to cut more, and tighten our belts. Plus the debt ceiling fight might just crash the world economy anyway.
Congress Isnt Going to Do Anything
As historically unproductive as the 112th Congress was, theres not much reason to expect more from the 113th. The Senate has gotten marginally more liberal and the House has gotten marginally less Republican, but the basic makeup of both is the same. Its still the case that House Republicans have no incentive to compromise on anything, while Senate Democrats live to compromise.
Its highly unlikely that well see any meaningful action on climate change, or effective gun control legislation, or real improvements to Obamacare, or stronger financial regulation. If anything is done on immigration, itll likely be a tiny bill designed to help only a small sliver of the American undocumented population a compromise to the compromise that was the Dream Act. .....................(more)
The complete piece is at: http://www.salon.com/2013/01/01/why_2013_is_going_to_be_awful/
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Salon: Why 2013 is going to be awful (Original Post)
marmar
Jan 2013
OP
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,693 posts)1. Well, that's a day-brightener.
KaryninMiami
(3,073 posts)2. Sigh. Anyone else up for a PM Years day cocktail?
This uplifting piece and the fiscal cliff drama call for at least a double. Plus, we need to toast the official end of the holidays- I'm doing Pino Grigio- anyone joining me? It's gonna be a long night... Cheers!
RomneyLies
(3,333 posts)3. that was exactly what I needed to read on 1/1/13
NOT!
melody
(12,365 posts)4. I listen to Salon's predictions like I do Karl Rove's n/t
Duer 157099
(17,742 posts)5. No Louie?!?!?!??!
Oh, just until 2014. Whew. Had me really worried there!
thelordofhell
(4,569 posts)6. waaa......waaaaaaaaaaaa
RKP5637
(67,108 posts)7. Maybe 2014 will be a good vintage. n/t