So, we have to reduce the deficit now, or the economy will suffer, BUT if we enact mandatory budget

[grahamhgreen]

control as per the Budget Control Act of 2011, the economy will suffer.

Well, which is it????

[HiPointDem]

1. yes, suffering seems guaranteed. and it's all self-inflicted.

[Chan790]

2. Neither.

The smart thing to do is what the GOP will never agree to do...raise the debt-ceiling and agree to deferred defense cuts, a tax-increase on wealthy earners and stimulus now. Do not touch earned benefits. (I refuse to call them entitlements. I paid for them.)

When the economy is in good shape, that's when you pay-down the deficit. Not now.

[grahamhgreen]

3. Right, the position they are taking is illogical.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

4. I don't know either

They spent all of last year throwing a tantrum over cutting the deficit and after a huge and completely unnecessary battle over the debt ceiling, they came up with a way to cut the deficit and Congress passed it and President Obama signed it into law that but now they're claiming that it's going to cause a disaster? If they knew it- along with the expiration of the Bush tax cuts- was going to create this "Fiscal Cliff", why didn't they come up with a different plan beforehand? Here's the bottom line from my perspective: Republicans never intended to honor either thing and were going to pass new legislating negating both things after they won the election this year, which, of course, didn't happen. They lost and now what they agreed to at the time will become law unless they work with President Obama to change things but so far they're strutting around acting like they won the election and President Obama has to bend to their will, which he obviously isn't going to do- and HE essentially doesn't have to lift a finger.

[grahamhgreen]

5. I think you're right, their loss has forced the R's into an illogical position. In simpler terms,

either their for budget control or they're against it... which is it?

[Proud Liberal Dem]

6. They were for it- before they were against it.

They want cuts but only to programs they don't like (social programs, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid). If they really wanted to make a difference, they'd see the reason for needing to cut out a lot of of the "defense" budget.

They never planned on having to go through with anything IMHO. Their plan was to win big this year and force an extension of the Bush tax cuts and restore the defense spending that was cut (which, actually, they already did pass in the House earlier this year). They realize that's not going to happen now without a fight, which they're currently waging (and losing).