December 21st has come an gone and we are still here. Much was made this past year that the ancient Mayan calendar supposedly called for the end of the world on December, 21, 2012. Seems that was the last day mentioned on the calendar, so that must have meant that the world end on that day. Well, that didn't turn out to be the case as I am writing this on December 30th, 2012, nine days later. But now we are one day away from plunging over the fiscal cliff, with Democrats and Republicans both acting like lemmings, following each other over the cliff with out hesitation. and maybe that is not a bad thing.
The Mayans were predicting the end of the world. Now we may be experiencing the end of the world as we have known it. For the first time in generations, the federal government may have to begin to try to live within its means, even if doesn't want to. Because the current group of Republican and Democratic leadership is so dead set against allowing the other side to benefit from any compromise that might keep us from going over the cliff, they appear to be ready to do nothing, which means there will be spending cuts and tax increases, which they all said they wanted to avoid. The lemming theory is proved to be fact. And as I said this may not be a bad thing.
The libertarian belief of less government is about to get a test, as is the belief that the federal debt must be paid down. The spending cuts that may or not not start in 2013 won't result in a balanced budget or anywhere close to a surplus budget, but the federal government would have to start to reduce spending so that sometime in the near future a balanced budget might come to be. There are two ways to balance the budget, cut spending and /or increase revenues, and we will also be facing higher taxes in the new year also. Can't say that I am thrilled at that prospect, but as long as everyone is paying more, I don't mind contributing my fair share. I would like to see a more consistent tax structure: a flat tax with very limited deductions - the fewer deductions allowed , the lower the tax rate or some form of national sales tax on non food /medicine items would be preferable to our current tax system.
While going over the fiscal cliff, we are looking at all kinds of ways to reduce crime and violence in our country, as mass killings and just everyday murders are on the rise, sometimes to record rates. Additionally, we were facing a major strike that would have shut down east coast and gulf cost ports, so many of the items we use everyday that are imported would not have been available. And in this country, the Mississippi River could be shut down to barge traffic south of St. Louis in a few days due to low water levels, which will affect the agriculture and energy industries in a big way. Not the end of the world as the Mayans predicted, but a major shift in our way of life in a big picture sort of way.
So as Congress grapples with the idea that if we can't do it my way, then we sure can't do it your way, which means that by default, we will do nothing and blame each other for our failures. Let us all be a bit more mature and understand that this allows us to take a evolutionary, or maybe revolutionary position, that maybe we don't really need the government spending money on all the programs and in all the areas it has past. And maybe we can make the tax system a bit more fair and realistic for everyone. But I am not holding my breath. To think that the threat that the world might end would spark some actual intelligent, thoughtful and meaningful discussions rather than mass hysteria and emotional reactions is panacea on my part.
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