All I Want for Christmas Is A Financial Collapse

Well, Christmas is behind us and it is back to work for Congress and the political community. While everyone is gearing up for what looks like one of the most explosive sessions in Congressional history, I feel a need to take a look back into what has transpired in the Lame-Duck session.

While Republicans in Congress threatened not to allow any work to be accomplished unless their agenda was passed, that attitude quickly changed as they worked toward comprehensive changes to American policy. Don't Ask Don't Tell, the controversial policy that banned Gay and Lesbian individuals from serving in the military, was repealed with sweeping Bi-Partisan support. Also enjoying Bi-Partisan support was the START Treaty, which created a new weapons deal with Russia, despite the continual objections by Republican Senator John Kyl of Arizona. Jobless benefits were extended for the long-term unemployed, giving people much needed cash during the Christmas season. Finally, 9-11 rescue workers will finally feel no need to worry about healthcare benefits, after Jon Stewart helped to fan anger over the bill's blockage by Republicans in Congress.

While all of these things were moves in a positive direction, there was one thing in particular that was a move in the other way. The Republicans in Congress threatened to block two key pieces of legislation, the 9-11 worker's bill and the Jobless benefits extension, because they would add to the deficit. The Republicans claimed that though they felt bad for both those groups, they could not justify passing those benefits until the National Debt and Budget Deficit is brought under control. That excuse would be understandable if they did not threaten to shut down the legislative process for extension of the Bush-era Tax Cuts.

Now for those that do not know, President George W. Bush, in an effort to spark the economy after the dot-com crash, cut the tax rates for all tax brackets. While they had temporary economic and political benefits, the worth of the tax cuts was negated by the upcoming wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Those two wars boosted government spending to heights not seen since World War II. With the government's income being reduced by the tax cuts just put into place, the deficit ballooned to levels not thought possible. Republicans that are serious about deficit reduction should shutter at any mention of putting these irresponsible tax cuts back into place. It is wrong for the country and wrong for its citizens.

Republicans in Congress used the guise of cutting taxes to gain cheap political points. They claim to want to fight the Debt and Deficit, the two poisons that are killing America's future. However, they seem to pick and choose which projects they want to fight and let pass. What they don't tell the public is that those tax cuts that sound so good to the people actually counter what the Republicans claim to stand for. While the cuts put more money into the pockets of Americans, they also cut the government's income without significantly cutting the government's spending. These cuts are irresponsible and will add to the significant budget deficit that continues to grow.

Ultimately, if the Republicans are going to continue to claim that they are fighting for fiscal responsibility, it is time for their actions to match their words.