Quick note on Fiscal Cliff - We Need Solutions, Not Politics

It's is more a plea than a post. Could everyone please take five minutes to understand the key points of the fiscal cliff discussion:

1. Higher revenue through higher tax rates on the rich (Rich defined as individual over $200K and households over $250K)
2. Preventing the reinstatement of higher payroll taxes (the supposed middle class tax cuts)
3. Allowing the President unilateral ability to raise the debt ceiling (our credit limit)
4. Promised spending cuts to existing government programs (I.e. - social security, Medicaid, SNAP, and various entitlements)
5. Whether more stimulus money should be invested

This is important because the Left is playing off voters' ignorance. You're going to keep reading and hearing about how Republicans refuse to keep us from going off the fiscal cliff by voting against middle class tax cuts (#2). This is like saying your boss is a tyrant because he won't give you a 3% raise, and forgetting to tell everyone you also asked for 3 more weeks of paid vacation.

When everyone refuses to question what they hear and just wants to be right about the team they support (see polarization from prologue post) this is what you get. This is how we the voters allow politicians to make their jobs an exercise in game theory rather than problem solving. Whatever your opinion make sure you know exactly what you support and what your side is voting for. We don't all have to agree on the issue, but we all should agree that the running of our country she be treated like a job and not a game.