From what the news said late last night and early this morning, we did get the extensions. It's just gotta be completed by the Congress today, which they expect to. BUT I don't trust any of those people. They had so much time to get this done, instead they waited til the last few hours, keeping us nervous, scared and angry. It wasn't their lives on the line. They all have money. Lots of it, most of them.

If we had a job that had a project that absolutely had a deadline, and all our team did was argue like a bunch of kindergartners, we would all be fired. Why can't they be fired for not doing their job? Never seen such a bunch of grown up babies, procrastinating so much on so many vital things. They truly don't care. It's not Republicans or Democrats, its all of them. FIRE THEM ALL. Is this what the people voted them in for? This is why I didn't vote. I don't believe in our current way of running the government. If we don't pay our taxes we are fined big time, or in serious trouble. The government owes trillions, and they don't get in trouble, they just " fix" it somehow so they aren't.

Time for a complete overhaul of how the US is run. It may have worked many years ago, it don't now. We used to drive horses to work, and that was acceptable, til something better came along. So now is the time to get a new way of running our government so these rich idiots don't hold us hostage.

I'm afraid my people will be held "hostage" for many months to come.

As I understand it, the unemployment benefits extension is only for 6 more months for those who are on the federal and state extension. For our unemployment figure to be at 7.6 % (I think this is what the latest "figure" is) I'm amazed it was awarded at all. I understand that the extension only is awarded when the rate is above 8%. As has been the "illusion" for many months, the unemployment rate is actually way, way, above 8%. I'd take a guess it is somewhere around 15% or higher, given those who are underemployed, working only part time, and have fallen out of the receipt of unemployment benefits and therefore no longer "counted" and still don't have jobs. These "magicians" who manipulate the figure and say our economy is "improving" and assign the bogus current rate are not presenting a true picture of the state of the worker here in U.S. Many college graduates and those who have had successful careers are now working low wage jobs (minimum wage) with part-time shifts. These aren't jobs! Granted something is better than nothing, but who can actually "live" with these earnings! No wonder so many families are receiving food stamps and other government program assistance. I'm glad the unemployment was extended, but the "war" isn't over yet. This is just the first stage of it, having had a "resolve" for averting the "fiscal cliff".

Now, we are held "hostage" as these "immature guardians" over our livelihood began their "theater" to "agree" to the debt ceiling increase. And, in addition to this, we are held "hostage" as these "ignoramous" give us "theater" is coming to a "balanced budget". The only thing this latest drama has done was to avert tax increases on the whole of society. In reality, the many of the masses "think" this has tackled those who have long been averting any payment of taxes, i.e. the "billionaires, trillionaires, and multi-billion $ corporations (including those that so many are irrate about, the oil companies and G.E.", but afraid not folks. This "tax increase" still eliminates these. Read VERY CAREFULLY the proposal that's sailed accross the legislation. The media is giving the whole truth. The only thing this "resolution" did was effectively "strain" what remains of the middle class. The lower middle class was "wiped" out with the "economic collapse" of 2008. What managed to survive, the mid sector of middle class is "hanging on by a thread" and apt to submerge into poverty as the rest of us lower middle class have. The only one remaining who have managed to survive the prior attack on middle class are the upper middle class, who have just effectively seen themselves "thrown under the bus". Folks, we MUST have responsibility in this country. A small sector CANNOT sustain those of us in poverty with all these programs, and continue to pay for unnecessary wars that serve the military elite and certain "government" by providing the means to dominate and subdue other nations for their wealth. The UPPER ELITE are NEVER, EVER going to pay "their fair share", so don't buy that bullshit. They NEVER WILL. That's how the "system" is set up. To quote the words of one of the members of senate who passed this bill, reluctantly, I may add on the "top earners" (what a joke), I am embarrassed of today's generation. I lament for the future generations. Today, in my observance is a ME SOCIETY. As long as MY NEEDS ARE MET by any means possible, I DON'T CARE about who pays for it and what consequence it may have on my children.

How I lament for my country. This IS NOT THE USA that I was brought up to love. I DO NOT RECOGNISE the country I behold today. The vast of society HAS CHANGED, and folks, I would have thought by now that we would have improved. But, as a whole WE ARE LACKING.

WE ARE NOT LONGER the beakon to other countries. In fact, we are even more abhored by them. They consider us HYP-O-CRITES. And no wonder. We are overall a selfish society. We say we care, but our actions speak otherwise. We need jobs, decent paying jobs with benefits, and I fear what we are going to get will be a "backlash" and more misery. I hope I am wrong. I really don't mind being told so if I am. But, anyone who has eyes to see and ears to hear KNOWS we have a class war going on among us. The upper elite are observing and laughing as we turn on ourselves, because they know, that what remains of the middle class cannot support all of those who are living in poverty. And, these upper elite know that these WILL NEVER contribute, athough few may develope a "conscious", but I have little faith in this. GREED and ME MENTALITY have overtaken my people. Such a shame.

In reality, the many of the masses "think" this has tackled those who have long been averting any payment of taxes, i.e. the "billionaires, trillionaires, and multi-billion $ corporations (including those that so many are irrate about, the oil companies and G.E.", but afraid not folks. This "tax increase" still eliminates these. Read VERY CAREFULLY the proposal that's sailed accross the legislation. The media is NOT giving the whole truth.

I correct myself.

You are so absolutely right about the class war thing, catwoman. I believe there are underground movements operating in the US, lead by high level powers that be both in government and in business, aimed at first the poor and desenfranchised (to keep them that way) and the middle class.

In days gone by, the middle class was the driving strength and power in this country. But, during the last 40 odd years, the middle class has become a smaller and smaller piece of the pie.

When I was growing up in the 1960's, it was VERY common for someone to graduate from high school, get not just a job, but a GOOD job with good pay and benefits within a few weeks of graduating, and be able to RETIRE from that job in 30-40 years. It was called "job security". Companies valued their employees and employees had pride and loyalty for their employer. The LAST thing a company would think of doing in order to stay afloat was downsize their employees. Obviously, those days are long gone.

You're so right - this is not the USA I grew up in and came to love. The comparison of what we used to be versus what we've become is heartbreaking. And, I really feel for the younger generations. I just pray that we can eventually get back on the right track again.

I was not born in the U.S.A, but I am a U.S Citizen. I have been to several countries; including my birth place, and nothing--I say nothing compares to what we have here in the U.S. We have a President who ran on the campaign on raising taxes to people who make more than $250,000 a year, and the majority of Republicans in congress shut him down! Then we have a Senate and a Congress who only care about playing politics and they ignore the middle class! However, we have the ability of all these sectors to argue and argue! If we did not have this DEMOCRATIC ability, we would be living the life of the Chinese, Syrians, Cubans, and even the Venezuelans--where one political entity rules all over the masses.

I am proud that our country passed something! It may not have been ideal, but they worked something out, without having the dominion of ONE particular political entity. Thank goodness for DEMOCRACY! I love my adopted country!

one cannot use the argument of comparison as an excuse to not do anything or make things more fair or equitable ,,,granted were not Cuba, but that should not be a reason to remain indifferent to fixing a very broken system,,,

America = Voluntary Enslavement.

If UK and Ireland don't change we will be the same.

well nothing like thinking you will retire and the company folds......now they think your toooo old but not old enough for social security. Nothing like being homeless and barely working. Cant even help the people you stay with........