<prompt> Human: As the end of the year approaches, I have seen an increasing number of threads with concerns about the fiscal cliff. While anything is always possible, either via action or inaction on the part of the government, I believe the media has been unfortunately successful in scaring people about the implications of what is likely to be a non-event.First, please keep in mind that neither political party wants to raise taxes on the lower or middle classes. Both parties will go to great lengths to avoid being responsible for a tax increase on ordinary Americans. Second, not much actually happens right at the end of the year, and those things that do take effect soon can easily be reversed in whatever compromise legislation is established.No one can predict the future, but the media has made the term fiscal cliff sound like an end-of-the-world scenario. It isnt. Moreover, it is also very unlikely to take shape in the worst-case-scenario-fashion they seem to prefer discussing. Tax rates are always at risk of going up, but, if I may speculate, with so many eyes on the matter right now more than ever, well, no politician wants to let this happen.I am not suggesting you do not post questions or answers about pending tax changes, just keep in mind that there is little most people can do about this anyway - jumping into or out of the market, or trying to reorganize your income for preferable taxation, are unlikely to help the situation. Further, many of the changes will mostly impact higher-earning individuals and people with large taxable investments, who have financial cushions.Instead of a tl;dr from me, another rPF contributor Khal_Goodman summarizes the situation well: Can I just point out that if there isnt a deal before the 1st, anything passed will be retroactive to protect the over whelming majority of tax payers? And I dont believe there is anyone in either the SenateHouseWhite House that wants income taxes to go up for every tax payer.---One more quote. I realize their focus is on the impact to the equity markets, but I think Morningstar has done a good job of summarizing the issue in this case: Despite the medias penchant for touting the fiscal cliff as a major crisis, we think it will end up being a non-event. It has to get resolved one way or another ... We have tried to avoid the topic everyone else cant seem to stop talking about--the dreaded fiscal cliff--but alas, here we are. First, we expect the fiscal cliff will get resolved, if not by the end of the year, then shortly into the new year. Nothing actually falls off a cliff on Jan. 1; most of the changes would start to have impacts over the course of the year. Second, if our politicians actually do refuse to compromise, we may face a recession but at least our fiscal situation will be much improved.  <response>: check CNN, Foxnews, 24hr news networks, then check bloomberg.com.see the lack of fiscal cliff headlines? exactly.yes there is a problem, but the 24hr news networks are exaggerating this for ratings and to fill airtime. 