Salon: Why 2013 is going to be awful

[marmar]

from Salon.com:


Why 2013 is going to be awful
Here's to a year of austerity, dysfunction, lousy Obama negotiations -- and no "Louie"

By Alex Pareene


The good news is 2012 is over and will never happen again. The bad news is, now it’s 2013. Here’s why I’m not holding out hope for a great year in politics:

Austerity

It’s coming. Congress will obsess over crafting a long-term deficit deal no matter what happens with the tax rates and the sequester. In all likelihood, we’ll get regressive budget cuts at all levels of government, plus, for good measure, tax hikes not just on the rich but on working people. The well-funded “Fix the Debt” monsters will still demand massive cuts to Social Security and Medicare. Republicans are justifiably confident that they can use the debt ceiling to force more spending cuts less than a month from now. If all of this sinks the still-sluggish economic recovery, that’ll be just one more sign that we need to cut more, and “tighten our belts.” Plus the debt ceiling fight might just crash the world economy anyway.

Congress Isn’t Going to Do Anything

As historically unproductive as the 112th Congress was, there’s not much reason to expect more from the 113th. The Senate has gotten marginally more liberal and the House has gotten marginally less Republican, but the basic makeup of both is the same. It’s still the case that House Republicans have no incentive to compromise on anything, while Senate Democrats live to compromise.

It’s highly unlikely that we’ll see any meaningful action on climate change, or effective gun control legislation, or real improvements to Obamacare, or stronger financial regulation. If anything is done on immigration, it’ll likely be a tiny bill designed to help only a small sliver of the American undocumented population — a compromise to the compromise that was the Dream Act. .....................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.salon.com/2013/01/01/why_2013_is_going_to_be_awful/

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Well, that's a day-brightener.

[KaryninMiami]

2. Sigh. Anyone else up for a PM Years day cocktail?

This uplifting piece and the fiscal cliff drama call for at least a double. Plus, we need to toast the official end of the holidays- I'm doing Pino Grigio- anyone joining me? It's gonna be a long night... Cheers!

[RomneyLies]

3. that was exactly what I needed to read on 1/1/13

NOT!

[melody]

4. I listen to Salon's predictions like I do Karl Rove's n/t

[Duer 157099]

5. No Louie?!?!?!??!

Oh, just until 2014. Whew. Had me really worried there!

[thelordofhell]

6. waaa......waaaaaaaaaaaa

[RKP5637]

7. Maybe 2014 will be a good vintage. n/t