Hang on a minute! Since when did we have a cliff that America was in danger of falling from? The factual answer is 2011. Since 2011 when Congress failed to pass a routine debt ceiling limit and instead escalated it to a crisis of immense proportions. Routine to a crisis? Excellent Act I. Demonstrates how powerful repetitive media statements can be.
The fiscal cliff is entirely a product of the Republican party's imagination, however, due to it's incessant use on FOX and other media outlets since 2011, it is now bought into by a great number of citizens and politicians and the Right continues to control the message. Republican strategists on framing/market research win on it, they achieve as a minority party what they could not in any other way as a majority. The full faith and credit of the United States is in fine shape, it is not broke nor on the way to broke. It's the messaging, stupid!
We must frame the final act ourselves. Let's reframe our message and not stand for the lies and harm that will come from the so called cliff cuts, it's a figment of the Right's imagination!
This play is not over. We do our best work when we don't
allow the rightwing framing to be repeated, one only need ask Professor Lakoff.
In other words, don't use the words. As Progressives, our job is to disallow
the fiscal cliff framing and outright reject it. Instead, let's ask why is the
government aiming at the people rather than at the Fat Cats who are draining
our federal budget? If there really is a crisis, the math shouldn't be so hard
to discern. Turn those damn guns away
from US and aim them where they belong. The people are not the perpetrators! We are
the government, we are the 99%. They should not be aiming at US to resolve this
perceived budget crisis, the people are not the problem, rather, we are the
answer!
Facts matter, or at least they used to. The military/defense departments have
doubled their budgets since 2000 under former President Bush. FACT. Included in
this complex are: Homeland Security, CIA, TSA, Veterans and WAR. Fact. If one were to read the Project for a New
American Century's "Rebuilding America's Defenses", you'd see that the Right
had its way and did indeed double "needed" spending according to plan. This spending is what's breaking us, not Social
Security, Medicare, Education and vital programs for the disadvantaged.
Subsidies to plutocratic corporations are enormous: Oil, AG, Banking, etc.
FACT. END THEM. Don't end US, end the subsidies!
I'm sending this message to the President, my Senators and Representative today and every day going forward:
Congress and the President were given a mandate in the last election, focus on the people, not special interests. I oppose any positions regarding the so called "fiscal cliff" which was contrived by political operatives and Republican Strategists. We can ill afford "austerity" measures at a time when our economy is so fragile, all we have to do is look to Europe to see what will result, or ask the Congressional Budget Office what will happen to Unemployment rates. This is an opportunity! I am calling on you to ensure there are no cuts to Social Security, Medicare, or other vital programs, rather, focus your efforts on investment in useful jobs; end corporate tax loopholes and the Bush tax cuts on high incomes; withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan now; and redirect military spending to domestic needs and job creation. The military and defense budgets have doubled since 2000 when accounting for all defense related departments which include the Pentagon, Homeland Security, CIA, TSA and Veteran's departments. In addition, subsidies to corporations, industries and special interests are enormous and outspending the people's needs, such as Oil, Agriculture and Banking as examples. This spending is what's breaking us, not Social Security, Medicare, Education or aid to the disadvantaged. Ignore the rhetoric. Stand up for us, not special interests!
President Obama: the White House Comments: 202-456-1111 http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact
US Senate: click here
US Representatives: http://www.house.gov/representatives/
The people have the backs of our President and Congress if they do the right thing. As President Roosevelt said, "Make Me". And so we shall.
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