FISCAL FRUSTRATIONS Americans Voice Frustrations About Washington And Fiscal Cliffhanger
Reported by: Kallie Cart
Web Producer: Kallie Cart
Reported: Dec. 31, 2012 6:25 PM EST
Updated: Dec. 31, 2012 6:33 PM EST
EYEWITNESS ONLINE WEBCAST VIDEO C L I C K T O P L A Y
Charleston
, Kanawha County
, West Virginia
While lawmakers continue to try to work out a deal to avoid the fiscal cliff, their actions will impact nearly every American, many of whom say they are frustrated.
"I think the politicians have let us down," Art Standish of Charleston says.
"You want to hope that they forget whats important to them and realize whats important to the entire country," Scott Castleman of Charleston says.
Around the nation and here at home Americans are voicing their frustrations and concerns about what's going on -- or not going on -- in Washington.
"Since the republicans have taken over the Congress they just seem to, instead of work with the President, they make roadblocks," Philip Simmons of Charleston says.
"We've had plenty of days and we aren't making any progress with it," Finnie Tyree of Charleston says.
The frustrations are felt on many levels. Not reaching a deal on the fiscal cliff will mean increased taxes for nearly all Americans and brings the threat of another recession. Funding for many programs will also be slashed. But some say there's also frustration of the unknown.
"They need to get on their game and get something done, there's a lot of implications I think we haven't been told about yet," Standish says.
Castleman says he's frustrated that lawmakers have waited until the last minute, even leaving for a 5 day Christmas break, in the midst of the negotiations.
"Everybody is entitled to their holiday but when you have the burden of the country weighing on you, you'd hope you'd find it important enough to work to find a solution," Castleman says.
But many still are holding onto hope.
"I hope it gets passed because if it doesn't this country will be in worse shape than what it is," Tyree says.
"I just hope that they work something out like they used to," Simmons says.
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Kallie Cart
