Americans are rightly focused on the “fiscal cliff” looming at the start of 2013, when, under current legislation, virtually all tax rates will rise, sucking more than 3% of GDP out of households and businesses. In addition, automatic cuts in government spending on defense and non-defense programs will subtract nearly another 1% of GDP in 2013 and similar amounts in future years.
美国人正确地把注意力集中在可能从2013年开始的“财政悬崖”，根据当前立法，那时几乎所有税率都会上升，从家庭和企业手中夺走相当于GDP的3%以上的钱。此外，防务和非防务政府支出的自动削减将在2013年再砍去GDP的近1%，以后各年也是如此。国会预算办公室警告说，跌下财政悬崖会在明年将美国经济拖入严重衰退。