Now that the elections are over, and campaign promises are nothing but vague, fuzzy memories in the minds of the folks that we voted into office, we are hearing constant chatter from them about the "fiscal cliff".  As I've said many times, the "fiscal cliff" is nothing but a straw dog designed by our electeds to panic we, the people into accepting draconian cuts to what they like to call "entitlements."  Their definition of an entitlement is any government administered social program that they see as a cash drain on the budget. That is usually something that the average citizen needs, as opposed to something the average billionaire or corporation wants.  My definition of an entitlement is something that, by virtue of years of paycheck deductions or years of service is owed to an individual or something that, for moral reasons is a right.

If you are foolish enough to think that “entitlements” are the main causes of the deficit, consider the following:   Any businessman worth his or her salt will tell you that there are two ways for a
business to become profitable: 1- By bringing in profits. 2- By cutting costs.  Most businesses use a combination of Increasing profits and cutting costs to succeed.  Failing businesses make draconian cuts that hurt their infrastructures because they haven’t been able to bring in profits for one reason or another. Successful business find creative ways to increase their profits, let's say by building a better product.  A business that is competitive, doesn't have to make
cuts that hurts its future capabilities. In the case of governments, profits are revenues and costs are expenditures.

In the case of the United States of America, the most obvious loss of revenue is due to the many tax breaks that our electeds have ”given” to corporations and the wealthy.  A less obvious and equally significant loss of revenue was and is caused by corporations offshoring American jobs which increases unemployment and underemployment, turning taxpayers into former taxpayers.  Similarly, corporations that underpay their employees create a shameful condition called the working poor, who are not a source of revenue  because they don't earn enough to pay taxes and in many cases, through no fault of their own need government assistance.  To make matters
worse, many giant corporations, especially those that own big box stores put America's real job creators, small businesses out of business by unfair competition.

Folks, I didn't write this article just to whine about the current sad situation, I come to the table armed with ideas that can put our country back on the road to true equitable economic recovery.  Economic recovery is as simple as 1, 2, 3, 4:

1. Eliminate the Bush tax cuts for the rich who just hoard their savings while keeping them for the bottom 98% who will be more likely to spend it on essentials like food, clothes , etc.!
2. Revitalize domestic manufacturing by restoring the tariffs on imports that the Reagan administration reduced or eliminated, creating jobs and revenue! 
3. Stop wasting American taxpayers lives and money by eliminating the multiple wars that we are fighting all over the world.  History proves that fighting multi-front wars always turns out badly.  If our “allies” want us to “defend” them, let them pay for it with their taxes and lives. Honor those who have served by increasing, not decreasing veterans benefits.
4. Don't even think of cutting Social Security, Medicare social safety nets or government jobs. They give people money to spend that gets injected back into the economy and creates prosperity.
   

If you think that those four ideas are baloney and our electeds have the answer, please let me know.