Obama cut his vacation short in an effort to urge political leaders to reach an agreement and avoid what has commonly been called a national “Fiscal Cliff”. The President has been working on a deal that Democrats and Republicans can both agree on. In his own estimation, the President has worked to reach common ground but Republicans are not budging on the tax hikes he wants for wealthier Americans.
In an interview with Meet the Press, President Obama said of Republicans, “They say that their biggest priority is making sure that we deal with the deficit in a serious way, but the way they’re behaving is that their only priority is making sure that tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans are protected,” Obama said. “That seems to be their only overriding, unifying theme.”
Without a consensus millions of middle class American families will experience tax hikes that could cripple their finances by adding another bill on top of the income declines that people throughout the US have experienced in recent years. This comes at a time where American families simply cannot afford to pay more to Uncle Sam. There are more people on food stamps and assistance than ever before – not because they want to be but because they have to be. Families are struggling to pay the mortgage and keep a roof over their head. An additional tax burden will make that even more difficult.
People throughout the country are sounding off on Facebook, Twitter and other social media outlets. @justinlong said, “Congress refusing to make a deal b4 the fiscal cliff is the economic equivalent of EMS dispatchers refusing to answer 911.” With online marketing and social media widely available to view public opinion, leaders have no excuse to not make a deal. Simply put questions out on Twitter and let the public decide. Political leaders are elected by the people to represent their needs. Modern technology has made this easier than ever to do so. If leaders cannot make decisions on their own they should leverage online mediums to let the public do it for them.
If a deal is not reached and taxes go up, families will have to decide whether or not they will even pay. If you have to decide between paying taxes and paying the electric bill, heating your home is more important. If you have to decide between paying the mortgage or paying taxes, providing a home for your family is more important. Leaders in Washington may find that by not reaching an agreement, they will only be creating more of a financial nightmare as Americans may simply say no.
