Tired of cliff hangers

It's OK to get nervous now about the fiscal cliff.

Acting more like obstinate children than responsible leaders, America's elected officials have been fattening themselves on party principles while abdicating their most solemn duties to the American people. With a mere 11 days left in the year, there is no more time to tarry.

Taxes on the wealthiest must increase, and savings must be captured on the expense side of the ledger. It isn't either/or; it's both.

As Sen. Mike Crapo illustrates on the opposite page, nobody will be spared if we all go over that precipice. It's just that some people are in better position than others to handle a punch to the fiscal belly.

We have heard from a number of intelligent people that our nation would be better served in the long term by plunging over the cliff. In part, they say, we need that unforgettable experience to discourage us from ever allowing our nation's finances to reach this point of unprecedented irresponsibility again.

While there may be some value in a lesson like that, most of the people advocating an advance over the cliff are in such good shape financially that the punch won't really hurt them. Good for them - but bad for most of America.

Most Americans cannot afford another recession, which is almost guaranteed if the cliff isn't negotiated. Many citizens haven't recovered the wages and benefits they lost in the last recession. They can't afford to lose even more while rising inflation takes ever-bigger bites out of what they do have. It's hard to even begin to imagine new rounds of layoffs and the excruciating ripple effect they would cause.

Mr. President and members of Congress, put aside your petty differences and do your job. In the short term, dump the drama and agree on a fiscally prudent policy for the coming year. Longer term but of the utmost importance in 2013, develop a sensible tax code, one that is simpler, fairer and provides the essential funding needed to keep our nation strong.