So we didnt go over the fiscal cliff | The Compost Bin | Forums

First, let me say, financially, I'm struggling. We live pay check to pay check, often coming up short. And the fiscal cliff would have been a definite hardship for me and my family. However, I feel like it would have been the right thing to do (if paired with drastic cuts in spending.) We can't just keep on going spending more then were taking in. I think the American public needs to be objective, see what needs to be done, tighten the belt and just do it. This legislation isn't much more than a (temporary) bailout of the american people. And much like many thought about the Auto & bank bailouts, you really need to let the chips fall where they may, reset and start over. You can't keep funding failure.

And on a side note regarding the economy. Maybe this recession/depression is a blessing. Maybe it will force a reset and get America back to where it used to be. We've become too much of a spend happy, disposable country. Something breaks? Buy a new one. Don't have the money? Oh well, buy on credit. Perfect examples. Two weeks ago, our washer went up. It's been struggling for months now, and it finally bit the dust. Rather than go out and buy a new one (something I would have done 5-10 years ago), I went online, figured out the problem, ordered the parts and fixed it. Another example. My wife's car needed brakes. I went online, figured out how to do it, bought the parts and did it myself. I'm almost 44, and have no auto repair experience. But desperate times call for desperate measures. I think this is the direction we need to go as a people. btw, my wife's car hasn't crashed and burned yet (but I'm hoping. j/k)

Just my 2 cents.

/lecture

She's in the bottom of a ditch due to a mysterious "brake failure" Have no idea how that could have happened.

I would def. start with the thermostat. If for no other reason than you already have one. lol Then go from there.