You’ve probably heard of the “fiscal cliff” conundrum the U.S. government was facing at the very end of 2012.  Republicans and Democrats were gridlocked for weeks leading up to the deal, with disagreements on both sides as to how to best tackle the issues at hand. Furthermore, Congress waited until the very last minute to pass a deal, nearly pushing the U.S. over the cliff and into economic turmoil.

If the U.S. had gone off the cliff, many predicted the progress we’ve made over the past few years would reverse, and more Americans would have found themselves without work. The deal that was passed offers little consolation when it comes to fixing America’s widening cracks in the social safety net. Here’s a bit more about the deal and what it means for Americans. Continue reading →