By OcJim

Americans have been purposefully exposed to such a protracted campaign of pure bullshit for so long that we might not even smell it. The current media-fed fantasy of the “fiscal cliff” is such a case.

The metaphor of an immediate, irreversible fall over a precipice of unalterable disaster has been gleefully seeded by radical conservatives and consciously or unconsciously perpetuated by even the mainstream media, which feeds on drama and sensationalism.

The prescribed scenario of obstructionism and blackmail has been planned. The miscreant Republican leaders in Congress, namely Boehner and McConnell, I would suspect, will try to play “over-the-cliff” politics again. They have their marching orders from various billionaire leaders, for example the Koch brothers, the self-proclaimed coordinators of plutocratic goals.

Yes, the Koch brothers seem to be the true leaders of these coups. In 2006, Koch Industries owner Charles Koch revealed to the Wall Street Journal’s Stephen Moore that he coordinates the funding of the conservative infrastructure of front groups, political campaigns, think tanks, media outlets and other anti-government efforts through a twice annual meeting of wealthy right-wing donors. Koch also said that his true goal is to strengthen the “culture of prosperity” by eliminating “90%” of all laws and government regulations.

Naomi Klein described the process that has been so successful. Manufacture or exploit a crisis-bound event which will prompt drastic economic change, change which cements the power of the rich. Such change is not possible in less stressful circumstance. We have had 9/11, the Great Recession, raising the debt ceiling, and the national debt.

Currently radical conservative, who control the Republican Party, have constructed the “fiscal cliff.” It was made possible by past Republican intransigence and the Obama administration’s weak-kneed response. The fiscal cliff is another chapter in what Naomi Klein calls the Shock Doctrine in her book with that title.

Stage some kind of shock – real or constructed – and use it to pass legislation that will lower taxes for the rich, reduce entitlements like social security or Medicare, destroy regulation, weaken unions – a whole host of programs to kill the middle class and kiss the hind quarters of the rich.

If we let the tax cuts die at the end of this month, the rich will pay more, middle class families will see an income tax hike of about $1,500, a cut in child tax credits by about $500 per kid, a cut in tuition tax credits by $700 a year and a hike in the payroll tax of $1,000 per year. We’ll also have large defense cuts which will not affect the military readiness. Obama only seeks a rise in taxes for the rich, but do you think no-chin McConnell and a heartless Boehner will let that happen?

Initially they won’t because they believe Obama will fold.

We must stop the blackmail. Disaster is not around the corner. Boehner and McConnell will bend with the pressure of voters, that is, if we make our wishes known in other than national polls. In the meantime, Obama has a way around the debt ceiling.

Let’s stop the bullshit instigated by billionaires like the Koch brothers.

Let the tax cuts expire. Then watch Republicans squirm.

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