Sequester and Weight Gain

  I have managed to gain 5 pounds. Don't give me this business about it to being the result of the holidays or cavorting in cafés in Miami Beach. While some of that may be true, my recent weight gain is much more serious. It is the fault of those damn Republicans in Congress. I have done the research. You may be comforted to know that your expanding middle may be the result of a minor bout with depression. Scientists say that in this part of the country the simple loss of sunshine can bring it about. Those who know me realize that I can hardly claim that defense. But there is something to this depression stuff. If you have been diligent in reading these tax blurbs of mine from this blog you know that the end of last year brought about the fiscal cliff scare. Congressman then batting around their party’s ideology certainly cost me a few pounds. But as that issue appeared to get resolved and just when it seemed weight loss was in the cards for me the new March 1 “sequester” darkened my bathroom scale. The New York Times stated that "House Republicans are resolutely opposing new tax increases to head off $85 billion in across-the-board spending reductions all but ensuring the cuts will go into force March 1 and probably remain in place for months, if not longer". This raises the potential of widespread disruption in government services and even military operations in the weeks and months ahead. There you have it. Depressing news and five extra pounds and counting. As the GOP continues to resist tax increases, my pants will no longer fit. By the way, there is a threat that the entire government will have to close down on March 1 although Congress appears ready to extend that deadline until September 30, the end of the fiscal year. The sequester cuts will be both arbitrary and deep to defense and domestic programs and to borrow a term from our own now beloved NJ governor “stupid”. Why not just call this silly sequester off if for no other reason so people like me can shed a pound or two.