Fiscal Cliff Scare Talk Follows Shock Doctrine Script

[proud2BlibKansan]

If you have already read The Shock Doctrine by Naomi Klein you have probably been rolling your eyes at all this “Fiscal Cliff” scare talk. “Here they go again” you’re thinking… If you haven’t read the book, you should. You really, really should.

The Phony “Fiscal Cliff” Scare

At the end of the year the Bush tax cuts expire. When this happens tax rates will rise modestly to where they were when Clinton was President. Also at the end of the year budget “sequestration” occurs. This means that the various cuts Congress approved to end the debt ceiling “crisis” will begin to phase in. (Remember, the debt-ceiling “crisis” was when Republicans refused to allow the country to honor its debts, holding the economy hostage, unless they got deep budget cuts in the things We the People do for each other.)

That’s it. That’s the “crisis.” All of the people who had been hysterical about the budget deficit “crisis” are now hysterical that taxes will go up and spending will go down. Go figure. Maybe — just maybe — I shouldn’t even say it — these “serious people” weren’t … serious … when they said they were worried about the deficit. You see, the hysteria now is because tax rates at the top will go up (cutting the deficit), and because a big part of those budget cuts (cutting the deficit) is military spending. Unfortunately the sequestration also cuts important things that help a lot of people and our economy. But these cuts do not take place all at once (a “cliff”), they will be phased in over time, and the Congress can act at any time to halt any of these cuts.

The “Fiscal Cliff” is not a cliff and the language itself is intended to scare people . The name itself is designed to create panic, evoking disaster imagery of people and the economy falling off a cliff. It is the latest manufactured “crisis” and we are all supposed to be terrified and demand immediate and extreme solutions.

more ... http://www.alternet.org/economy/fiscal-cliff-scare-talk-follows-shock-doctrine-script

[bullwinkle428]

1. K&R. Unfortunately, even people like Nancy Pelosi are buying into the doomsday rhetoric,

suggesting we have to do everything we can to avoid the "plunge".

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. I expect that from Pelosi.

The remedy is an informed electorate.

We begin today's lesson by reading Shock Doctrine.

[tularetom]

3. Whenever I hear the words "Fiscal Cliff" I think of this

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. LOL

[HughBeaumont]

8. Fitting, since the man who plays him is a RW Asshat IRL.

[Pathwalker]

4. Let's throw Grover norquist over the fiscal cliff.

Americans aren't supposed to pledge allegiance to another person.

[gollygee]

6. This is the thread that got me to watch it!

I posted a thread saying I heard about Shock Doctrine in a thread here but couldn't remember which thread, but that it made me google and then watch the movie online. Thank you for posting this! I made my signature a suggestion that everyone watch it and/or read the book upon which it is based. I plan to get the book as well.

[proud2BlibKansan]

7. Great!

I have it on my DVR and watch it in pieces since there is so much to absorb. I am old enough to remember what happened in Chile in the 70s. And I remember when Pinochet was prosecuted in the 90s.

So much evil. And Milton Friedman right in the middle of it all.

Love your sig line!