Discussions about the nation going over the so-called fiscal cliff represent the classic conflict between the haves and the have-nots.
The question being resolved is whether the top 2 percent who control most of this country's wealth will continue in unrestrained prosperity through support with unlimited, unreported campaign contributions of conservative candidates who will legislate in their favor.
The discussions are publicized in terms of social values, national security and basic party principles for purposes of voter support but are simply economic. Corporate America did quite well during the recession, even using federal taxpayer bailout funds to pay bonuses to executives of institutions that caused the international financial collapse. They will not suffer regardless of what results from the ongoing negotiations.
People whose yearly income is many times the lifetime earnings of the average worker are concerned with multinational corporation profits that add to their wealth.
The 98 percent in the country who generate the profits are left to the politicians to convince that disaster will strike them if the 2 percent are at all deprived.
Those in the 2 percent don't make up many votes yet legislating to benefit the 98 percent invites loss of financial support. A compromise agreement, if reached, is certain to be mostly fine print.
ALEX YATSEVITCH
Delmar