Congressional Republicans will try anything to keep tax breaks for the top 2% - even threatening to increase taxes for the middle class if they don't get their way. That's why MoveOn member Steve brings us this potent message: Republicans, don't hold the middle class hostage.

Call Rep. Eric Cantor today at (540) 825-8960 and tell him: Don't hold our middle class tax cuts hostage.

The traditional media keeps telling us that America is headed over the fiscal cliff if Democrats and Republicans can't work out a budget deal. The truth is much more complex than that -- and the American economy isn't going to be destroyed. But when you drill down to the heart of the fight, it leads right back to the Republicans' pledge to keep taxes low for millionaires and billionaires. And the biggest push for tax cuts is coming from GOP operative Grover Norquist. But Norquist's days might be numbered, as Republicans are beginning to turn their back on him, and Mike Papantonio spoke with John Amato from Crooks and Liars recently about Norquist's last stand to preserve the costly tax breaks for the wealthy.

Your open thread begins below.

My name is Olivia. I can’t hold a sign because I’m so little.

I was born with club feet. One was so bad, it was nearly upside-down. My feet have been stretched into place and casted into position every week since I was 3 weeks old. It really hurts. I’m 3 and a half months old now, so I’ve done that a lot. It costs about $500 each time. (You can see one of my casts peeking out under my dress.)

On March 21, 2012 I had my first surgery, because the stretching wasn’t working. That cost nearly $9,000, but if my feet don’t get fixed, I’ll never be able to walk.

Medicaid is paying to fix my feet. My Daddy is a disabled veteran, but his insurance won’t cover my feet. My Mom is trying to raise my 3 brothers and I while she wracks up student loans getting her college degree, because minimum wage isn’t enough to keep a roof over our heads.

WIC is paying for my formula, because Mom’s milk never came in. She feels kinda bad about that, but sometimes these things just happen.

I hear that some people want to get rid of Medicaid, the Pell Grant, and WIC, so that the 1% can have even more tax breaks. Well, I want to be able to walk. I need to eat. And my Mom would like to be able to provide for me better someday. I don’t understand why people want to take that away from me. What did I do wrong?

[Via]