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So How Much Do You Think These D.C. Residents Know About the ‘Fiscal Cliff’?

Dec. 14, 2012 12:05pm Becket Adams

We understand that the so-called “fiscal cliff,” a combination of tax increases and spending cuts scheduled to take effect next year unless Congress comes up with a budget plan, is a confusing and oftentimes boring topic.

We totally get it.

But, come on! The people interviewed in the following clip are in the nation’s capital! They should at least pretend to be a little more engaged [although, to be fair, one of the women interviewed clearly isn't from around the D.C./NoVa. area]. Watch the video, below:

Final Thought: If we were given the task of quizzing random strangers on their knowledge of the “fiscal cliff,” we’d totally do it while prominently displaying this photo (just to mess with their heads):

You’re welcome.

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Featured image courtesy Fox News.

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Comments (40)

D.A.Veteran
Posted on December 15, 2012 at 2:11am
Desert Rose, you are an over educated fool, for thinking American corporations are your enemy. Who do you think is incorporated in these corporations? They are normal people, tax payers, providing for themselves and their families, by providing products and services for profit. And you bring up Clinton. Well, recall NAFTA? Even Hillary stated NAFTA was a big mistake. It created this influx of outsourcing. Thru Mexico, for 14yrs, till 2008, China was able to import goods to the U.S. thru Mexico by sending unassembled products to Mexico for assembly, then directly imported to the U.S. What a scam! Once those assembly plants closed down in 2008, illegal immigrants poured into the U.S. while China had the green light to directly import their crap into the U.S. of which today, most everything sold in the retail market is imported from China. So, Clinton and his NAFTA pretty much destroyed our childrens futures.

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avgconservative
Posted on December 14, 2012 at 11:56pm
“The physical what???”

LOL!

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turkey13
Posted on December 14, 2012 at 7:38pm
Next year when the death tax comes back to $1 million bucks and their Grand Ma dies leaving them # 5 million bucks they will wake up. This year you get to keep all $$ up to $5 million before you are taxed. Next year it goes back to $$ one million free and then pay 50% on the other 4 million bucks. I know for some they still won’t get it but most will when they see what the IRS takes or they can get their kids to explain to them.

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JACKTHETOAD
Posted on December 14, 2012 at 6:10pm
The people in DC should know all about the cliff because they helped to create it.

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- rickc34
  Posted on December 14, 2012 at 8:01pm
  What a bunch of pin heads in DC.
  
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- TIME_THE_AVENGER
  Posted on December 15, 2012 at 7:53am
  The government or civilians? I hope pinhead covers them both.
  
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HI_Don
Posted on December 14, 2012 at 5:46pm
Let’s put this in perspective. The National debt is 16.5Trillion. The National deficit (the amount we spend in one year more than the amount we will generate in taxes in that year) is 1.07 Trillion. Obama wants to increase taxes on the rich which at maximum would generate 70 Billion, which is less than 10% of the deficit for this year alone.

We could let Obama seize every dollar of every person who earns more than 250K, EVERY single dollar that isn’t already taken in current taxes, and he COULD NOT PAY this YEARS deficit. Of course doing that would completely shut down the economy, there would be virtually no one to pay anyone’s salary who isn’t a federal worker (and they get paid once), no one to produce food to market, gas at the pumps, you would have NOTHING to buy and no job to make money to buy it if you could.
Yet the Dem.s argue increasing the rich peoples taxes is essential and the only thing that matters…increase revenue. Think about it folks. Even if we increase taxes on EVERYBODY in this country rich and poor alike, we are STILL going over the cliff. The ONLY reasonable answer is to cut spending, yet Obama wants to increase it. He only debates increasing it by how much. The objective is obviously to force us into insolvency, then restructure America as Socialist, just like the plan for the middle East. Force turmoil and replace the system in the name of crisis management.

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steve-in-pa
Posted on December 14, 2012 at 3:30pm
You can cut entitlements by making people who are physically able payback the taxpayer by doing community service for the money they receive. More money given, more hours of worked. Most will find a job that pays more for actually working. Collecting money for doing nothing does not instill any values.

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- steve-in-pa
  Posted on December 14, 2012 at 3:36pm
  If they want a tax hike fine… but lets get something out of it, a clean America.
  
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Ironz
Posted on December 14, 2012 at 2:49pm
DesertRose
I guess 1960 is the year you were born, so you entered the world when the far liberal left were coming to power in this country. Yes, are past taxes brought us the various services you mentioned previously, however the taxes that are being pushed now by the man in the oval office are far above what this country needs. Our federal government is to large that is why DC is now listed as one of the most prosperous city’s in our country. DC has the one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country as well as the highest incomes in the country. All this is paid for by the citizens, and yes mostly by the successful citizens in the country. Plus, almost half the of citizens in this country do not pay income taxes, so a few pay for most of the services that this country uses. The government has be be cut and yes something has to be changes to medicare, most of the suggestions by the conservatives have been denounced by the liberals of this country, because the liberal democrats need the people dependent on their style of government. Our country was not built on dependence on the government but by the liberty that we have fought for. This allows the people to think and do for themselves within the law, that is how we have become the beacon to the world and why people want to move to our country. I love this country and I do not like what this administration is trying to do to my country. If I wanted to live in Europe I would move there.

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watashbuddyfriend
Posted on December 14, 2012 at 2:40pm
And, just think, those idiot young adults voted for Obama!

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ClaudeRains
Posted on December 14, 2012 at 2:20pm
I’m voting for Santa Claus.

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2smart4libs
Posted on December 14, 2012 at 2:07pm
50% have no clue but we had all better vote for the “black guy”

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TexOkie
Posted on December 14, 2012 at 1:36pm
I don’t know anything about all that “fiscal cliff” stuff but I’m going to vote anyway for the guy who promises me the most free money from government. After all I’m entitled.

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toledofan
Posted on December 14, 2012 at 1:11pm
It’s pretty obvious that there are a whole lot of peole who just aren’t paying any attention, isn’t it just amazing how we’ve become immune to the what is going on politically or at least to what is going on in general. In today’s techno internet connected world you’d think people would be smart and tuned in, but, it’s almost just the opposite and many of them vote, that’s the scarey part. Dumbies at the poll booths a Democrats dream.

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blackbean
Posted on December 14, 2012 at 1:03pm
Let’s go for the cliff as we are already in free fall. O wants it, so let’s let him have it. It’s probably the only way to derail this monster called the federal government!

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thegreatcarnac
Posted on December 14, 2012 at 1:03pm
D.C. is an obama stronghold. Of course the people there are idiots.

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elvisroy0000
Posted on December 14, 2012 at 1:01pm
i do not know how Bad the Fiscal Cliff is but we all have the ability with Gods Help to overcome it .
Greatness and Poverty are Choices lets get out and make The Right Choices and build that, despite Obama.we can Build it 1. President Newt Gingrich http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBhfeySNYJc&feature=share&list=UUBuIBDSUAc2tn3zLW-VCgaA

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ArmedAndReallyPissed
Posted on December 14, 2012 at 12:59pm
Are these the same people interviewed that said the CLOTUS won one of the Debates 6 hours BEFORE the actual Debate took place ? What a bright future for our Kountry.

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Pat Alexander
Posted on December 14, 2012 at 12:48pm
Wait till these young snots get their first healthcare bill with the new 2X and 3X rates.

They will be out with torches & pitchforks.

I can’t wait..

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Zipit
Posted on December 14, 2012 at 12:40pm
And by the way! Nice pic, John Ratzenberger is a conservative rock star! He is,Fiscal Cliff!!!!!!!

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huey6367
Posted on December 14, 2012 at 12:37pm
When this is brought up for a vote, I think the Republicans shuld vote PRESENT on the bill. Not a yes. Not a no. Just PRESENT. That the Dems can own it. If it does well, they are heroes. If it fails (and it will) they can claim that as well.

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- Chromo200
  Posted on December 14, 2012 at 1:55pm
  Excellent point .. been saying that from the day Boehner threw the conservative congressmen out of the committee.
  
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Chromo200
Posted on December 14, 2012 at 12:29pm
This is the problem that 51% voted for Obama. They believe the crap about Republican are bad, they believe in the gov’t will take care of them because their parents took care of them. The parents gave them everything. They were told what to think and say in school. This is why we must go over the cliff, go through the trials and tribulations of rioting, looting, blood in the streets, and long lines for food and services, and maybe and I say maybe the zombies will wake up and decide that the gov’t is not their friend. That they have to be self reliant

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- oldguy49
  Posted on December 14, 2012 at 12:33pm
  boy are they in for a rude awakeing
  
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- DesertRose1960
  Posted on December 14, 2012 at 12:35pm
  Maybe the real zombies are the ones destroyed by Fox and other Rightwing media sources. Maybe they’ll wake up to realize they’ve been stuffed full of Fox talking points, talking points that favor big corporations and the very rich and literally take the money out of their hands and their pockets while they aren’t looking.
  
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- danger08
  Posted on December 14, 2012 at 1:07pm
  @Desertrose – People give money to corporations for goods and services. The only people that take anything from me is the gov’t. Every 2 weeks, whether I like what they do or not. I have ZERO problem paying taxes to a gov’t that is responsible in their actions. Nor do I have a problem paying taxes to gov’t to do what has been delegated as their duty. It is not their duty to interfere with how I live my life. It is not their duty to wage covert/ overt warfare under false flag pretenses. It is not their duty to cause a generational welfare society and is not their duty to corrupt the entire system for personal gain and special interests. I agree with you to an extent. Both parties have lost their way and unfortunately the people outside of gov’t will pay the price. When people turn off “jersey shore” and realize they’re screwed it will be painful…
  
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- DesertRose1960
  Posted on December 14, 2012 at 1:41pm
  @Danger08, I would say by your response, you do have a problem paying taxes. You also fail to realize all the goods and services you receive from the Government for those taxes. You have the best military in the world. You have a safe food and water source. You have roads and sewers and mass transit. You have fire and police protection and schools that educate your children from 5 through advanced degrees. The U.S. college system is THE BEST in the world and many of those schools are owned by the public. At age 65, you have access to Medicare and Social Security, entitlement programs that you paid into and that eliminated poverty for 70% of the senior citizens. In some cases, you have county hospitals and medical institutions being paid for by your tax dollars. Corporations, in the meantime, have seen their profits go up by nearly 300% in the last 30 years and CEO compensation has skyrocketed by over 300% and productivity has gone up by 200% but worker wages are the same as what they were forty years ago. And they’ve convinced you that the Government isn’t your friend, they are.
  
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- Chromo200
  Posted on December 14, 2012 at 2:03pm
  DESERTROSE1960 Point well taken .. except that If I don’t want to buy a TV or car I don’t buy one. But taxes are taken even if you don’t use the services.
  
  By the way clean water, I pay for it directly .. no taxes are involved. Colleges I pay a portion of maintaining the colleges. Willing my taxes to go to the Military to keep me safe, but I don’t want wasteful spending. What value did you or I get from Solyndra, or the bankrupt electric cars or battery factories or the unused airport in Pennsylvania, or the millions that Obama spends on his vacations.
  
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- Liberty_and_Tyranny
  Posted on December 14, 2012 at 3:32pm
  Then plese DesertRose explain why, if you’re so angry with Corporations, are you willing to turn a blind eye when Obama takes out money as taxpayers and gives it to his top campaign contributors? Not just a few buck buts BILLIONS of dollars. You speak of taling points but all I’ve heard from you are talking points. Could it be because you don’t have any real information that is productive to the conversations here?
  
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ABO
Posted on December 14, 2012 at 12:25pm
Politicians are only worried about themselves and maintaining whatever power they believe they have…until elected officials care only for the good of the country and not being re-elected, this country will continue its downward spiral…again, the ignorance of the american voter is astounding…Oh how I wish for limited terms

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coyote1hell
Posted on December 14, 2012 at 12:25pm
D.C. is mostsly a Welfare state, all most of them know is that Momma-Obamma, is gonna’ send them a check each month….

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momrules
Posted on December 14, 2012 at 12:22pm
………and these people vote and the more than likely voted for Obama. Ignorance is bliss they say so there are a lot of extremely happy liberals.

But I do like Patsy Cline……..think I’ll go listen to that song.

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Psychosis
Posted on December 14, 2012 at 12:12pm
even if we go over the cliff, we STILL WILL SPEND MORE MONEY NEXT YEAR THAN WE DID THIS YEAR

there IS NO CLIFF

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Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on December 14, 2012 at 12:09pm
Amazing how ignorant the workers of the monarchy are ignorant of Emperor Caligula Obama’s actions.

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- DesertRose1960
  Posted on December 14, 2012 at 12:31pm
  First of all, most of the people Watters interviewed were tourists, because the people who live and work in D.C. were doing just that, working and not out on the Mall chatting with a TV crew. Second of all, he was elected President of the United States by a majority of the voters, your fellow citizens. He isn’t an emperor nor is he at all like Caligula. I don’t work for a monarchy, I work for a Representative Democracy. I understand about sequestration, the automatic and draconian cuts to Federal spending that were put in place during the Debt Ceiling Crisis in the summer of 2011. They were put there hoping to avoid another crisis because no one really wants them to take affect. The Debt Ceiling mess was a great blow to America’s credit rating, both here and in other countries. However, the taxes will only go up to what they were during the Clinton Administration, a time of prosperity and budget surpluses and debt reduction.
  
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- Liberty_and_Tyranny
  Posted on December 14, 2012 at 3:28pm
  DesertRose – The Clinton tax hikes of 1993 did not promote prosperity, but a worker wage decline and a growth rate of around 3.3%. When the Republican led Congress CUT taxes in 1997 is when economic growth began and reversed course. It even brought workers wages higher. Your logic does not work here. Bush took office in January 01 and saw a recession begin in March 01. After slowly installing the tax cuts in 03 the economy added 8.1 million jobs. Tax filers rose by 9.6%, taxable income rose 44%. Obama’s plan will not work and I can say that with certainty based on history. We can not continue to spend at this rate without making some sort of improvement. Taxing the top 2% so that our gov’t can run for what? 8 days? This man and his entire cabinet is in over their heads and the slight majority that you claim gave him this mandate have fallen victim to the propaganda spread throughout the media these days. Read a book or something. I can understand that democrats fell for his lies the first time but am completely amazed that after the 1st 4 years of nothing, most of you chose to have 4 more years of this mess. Raising taxes is not the answer. Cutting spending and ONLY cutting spending by any means necessary will pull us out of this recession, which btw we are still in a recession.
  
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