Lucid compromise.

I would not say both sides are in arms. Progressives feel betrayed. Arch-conservatives are having tickle fights. Though there has been excessive name-calling from spineless to sanctimonious, I think what Barack Obama did this week was sit a bunch of nanny-nanny-boo-boos down and show them that he is just a guy that wants to do the right thing for America.

There has been talk about concession and breaking promises; compromise has developed a negative connotation. On the contrary. Obama bet the sharp trading chip he held because he was dealt a hand he needed to play. He was in vice choice between his ideals and his country: he did his job. What was conceded was 2% tax cuts to the bourgeoise. What was gained was continuation of most unemployment benefits, and confirmation of hope for the future. Where conservatives have shown their steadfast stubbornness, something was created out of nothing. There could have been nothing at all. There is now a pathway towards pragmatic change with both parties involved. Rather than a shut-down beat-em-up, we have had our first sit-down-talk-it-out. Perhaps this may lead to something more?

Obama was right to get brisque with liberals. He's been doing work so that he can get things done altogether as Americans, and people still want to play Eagles vs. Hawks. I don't see many others rolling up their sleeves to do the same.

What's important:

Unemployment benefits will be extended for another 13 months. The beneficiaries are generally not lazy people. Many to most are breadwinners and single mothers. Aside from the emotional crush of a cold Christmas, without money for purchases; paying their insurance, housing and other bills, the noble unemployed would become a liability to American economy by default or inactivity. Without unemployment benefits, workers spend less time looking for jobs that fit their abilities, getting placed in work they cannot do efficiently, creating another divot in the workforce.

Tax rates
Payroll tax will be decreased and bush tax cuts will be continued, giving people more money to spend which intuitively is our economy. Though just a two year extension would sit another $700 billion on our deficit the tax cut package with conservative concessions are an investment in the present to provide means to handle the future. Corporations are sitting on a cool $1 trillion and are nervous about what new fines and taxes they will have to pay for the new sweeping legislation (health care and financial reform) taking effect. This is a way to create incentive for them to hire. They need some cashmoney to pump out the jobs.

We can now have a discussion in politics about fiduciary duty. If this compromise had not been made, we would be poking each others eyes out in the next two years. Progressives, do not get all nuts. We are moving toward the right place.