What fiscal cliff? I see a.fiscal slope.

Nothing particularly devastating happens on the day the cuts go into effect, but people do have to plan economic moves ahead. In other contexts, such as the supposed effect of raising the inflation target, Dean and other economists think that future Fed and government policies have important effects. Unless decision-makers have faith that Congress will draw back from the "cliff", they will have to change their plans based on the perceived likelihood that the cuts will take effect. This would have to start even before the drop-dead date, and would likely accelerate as the date is actually passed.

Dean, Dean, come now! You're veering too far off the scripted mainstream media guidelines. There IS a huge fiscal cliff that will swallow up our grandmothers and children, and us hapless Americans will now be slaves of the Chinese - whipped and bruised from working in their fields after the Apocalypse comes on January 1st.

To avoid this, we should all embrace Wall Street for its selfless dedication to the common good, and kindly allow it to take control of our social security contributions.

Is this the Austerian Debt Reduction Cliff reported on Mon Wed and Fri by Mary Matalin or the Keynesian Spending Cliff reported on Tues Thur and Sat by James Carville?

Inquiring but dimmed minds want to know.