Group Think: The opposite of traditional ''groupthink,'' our Group Think poses one question to a variety of smart thinkers for insightful perspectives on relevant issues.

What Should Result From the Fiscal Cliff Debate?

The fiscal cliff negotiations and the so-called grand bargain are worrying lawmakers, markets and taxpayers. Does the fiscal cliff have to be a nightmare scenario? What outcome would you like to see?

Contributors

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Mattea Kramer
Senior Research Analyst, National Priorities Project
Cut Out Wasteful Spending
"The fiscal cliff is an opportunity for lawmakers to do the serious budget planning that they've avoided in recent years."
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Bruce Bartlett
Former Senior White House Adviser and Economist
Get on Track for Sustainability
"Despite Republican propaganda to the contrary, the long-term fiscal problem of the United States is principally that revenues are too low."
James Kwak
Economist and Professor
Let the “Do Nothing” Congress Do Nothing
"The fiscal cliff is a unique opportunity to solve three of the most pressing problems facing our country."
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Jean Johnson
Senior Fellow and Special Adviser, Public Agenda
We Must Avoid Austerity on Steroids
"Going over the fiscal cliff is basically austerity on steroids. It means that taxes will rise suddenly for nearly everyone. "
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Scott Bittle
Senior Fellow, Public Agenda
Let’s Pay for Our Priorities
"Imagining a positive outcome for a strategy as dumb as the fiscal cliff is a challenge. If all the provisions went into force, the cliff would, in fact, do a lot to put the budget on a sustainable course."
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Teresa Ghilarducci
Professor of Economic Policy Analysis
Jobs and Growth, Not Austerity
"First, there is no evidence that tax cuts for the rich spurs job growth. ZERO. There isn’t even a reputable economics model that would predict that."
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Richard Trumka
President of the AFL-CIO
Averting the Manufactured Crisis
"I am hopeful. There is no need for this budget mess to be a nightmare scenario. A good outcome is possible, but only if working people stand up and make themselves heard."
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Robert Reich
Author and Former Secretary of Labor
We Need a Trigger Cut
"It all boils down to timing and sequencing: First, we get the economy back on track, then we tackle the budget deficit."
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Chad Stone
Chief Economist, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
Getting Stimulus Bang for the Budgetary Buck
"Even if all the tax and spending changes scheduled around January 1 go into effect temporarily, the economy will not immediately plunge into recession. "