Solution? What Solution?

Welcome to higher taxes!

Yes, that's right, Democrats, along with a minority of the majority Republicans in the House, voted to raise your taxes as part of the deal to avert the "fiscal cliff!"  The Senate approved the measure and Obama, the champion of the middle class, signed off on the deal that will strip money from your paycheck.  FYI, I'm firmly middle class.

In addition to raising taxes on the "rich," liberals on both side of the aisle and in the White House also approved the end to the 2% FICA tax rate cut which you, I, and millions of Americans had been enjoying.  That's OK in their minds, though.  See, they are hoping that with the New Year, you'll be getting a raise of more than 2% and that you won't notice that they have increased your taxes and your take home pay has gone down.

It's a sneaky psychological ploy for sure, hoping that they can sneak this one by as many people as possible.  But it is just typical liberalism, pure and simple.  Still, as prices continue to inflate faster than pay rates are going up, I do have to wonder how many people will be left scratching their heads when their checks start rolling in.

Most people I know haven't received more than a one or two percent raise (if any) each year since Obama was first elected.  I worry, for myself and my family, that our pay is basically going to be stagnant from last year.  That means that there will not be extra money to do the things we need to do.

Vacation?  Probably that can be completely forgotten about now.  Too bad for all those seasonal workers at the beach who won't have us visiting their restaurants and attractions.  Sorry guys and gals.

New car for the wife?  Oh, she needs one, but looks like it will be at least another year and, probably, a used car to help save money.  Sorry to all you union autoworkers.  And I'm doubly sorry to all you non-union autoworkers.

Good thing there's been the NHL lockout this year, because I have saved some money by not having to pay for my season tickets.

But, even with the money saved by that situation, I was hoping to have enough money to put new windows in the house and get the sewer line permanently fixed.  Well, guess what?  Looks like one or the other now and not both.  Hope whomever doesn’t get my business this year understands that I wanted to hire them, but liberals in Washington forced my hand.

But there's a really painful thing that resulted from the "fiscal cliff" deal that few are talking about.  That painful thing is that spending was left unchecked.  Yes, the government will still be spending more this year than it will bring in.  And by a lot!  It's going to be another year and another trillion dollar plus deficit for Washington, DC.  That's another $3,000 in debt for every man, woman, and child in America. 

To all you who voted for liberals - you own it!