If you thought we were going to get a break from all of the political bantering after the election, don’t hold your breath. Congress and the president have until Jan. 1, 2013, to make a decision about the coming “fiscal cliff.”

This “fiscal cliff” is a series of tax increases and budget cuts that will take place if the two parties cannot reach an agreement. If you remember anything about the healthcare debate, don’t be surprised if debate goes down to the last minute, or possibly beyond the deadline.

Parts of the fiscal cliff phase in gradually after the start of the new year, so Congress can always pass legislation as the various parts come up. The solution that they reach (if any) could mean very little. A deadline was set because, well because that that’s how things are done in Washington. In other words, it might not mean much.

My prediction is that the upcoming debates will look very similar to the health care debates. Each party will take a side, there will be a lot of yelling and we will see who comes out of top this time.

Last Thursday the White House sent their proposal to the Republican Party. It was pretty much what Barack Obama proposed during his campaign — taxing the wealthy to help solve our debt problem. On Monday the GOP sent their counteroffer to the White House. It was rejected by the White House.

The Republicans are not happy with this plan (obviously) because it does not go into detail about further spending cuts. This is a legitimate concern, but this is where Congress members step up and decide where those cuts will come from. They have the power to write and pass the laws, before the president approves them. That’s what a Congress that isn’t in constant gridlock would do anyway.

Each party has different issues that they want addressed in this agreement. Democrats want the debt ceiling raised, and Republicans want to address health care and entitlement changes. Each party will push these issues to the deadline in hopes that the other party will have to agree. They will use time limitations, not compromise, to get what they want. Is that what you want out of our political system?

Instead of weeks of gridlock and finger pointing, our representatives need to sit down and figure out together how we can solve our debt problem. This is a problem that will not go away, and it will be future generations who pay for it. We deserve an honest attempt at a solution — not finger pointing and seeing who can yell the loudest.

There is no easy solution to either our debt problem or our Congress problem. Sure you could write to your representative telling them how you feel about both issues, but they are under a lot of pressure from their party to vote and act a certain way that it would probably take much more than just one letter to one representative. We need a political revolution.

I’m not talking about the “change” Obama promised in 2008. I am talking about the general public changing the way they view politics. We have a two party system. Those parties should work for us. Right now they are working for their own ambition to promote their own ideologies. It is all about status and fights won, not about promoting the general good. We need parties who want to work together to make our country the best country to live in.

As a culture we need a fresh start. No more career politicians who are in it for themselves and their personal interests. We need people who want to serve the greater good, even if it means they do not get what they want. We need people who are willing to and can compromise. We need more racial, gender and economic diversity in our political bodies to better reflect the United States.

Is any of this actually possible? Don’t hold your breath. This most likely will not be happening anytime soon, but for a revolution to start conversation and a desire for change have to come first. Don’t be afraid to bring up these topics. Do not shy away from these topics. Our political system should be open to the people, not intimidate them. Challenge yourself and the people around you to think and discuss these topics and come up with what you would like to see in the future. Keep speaking those ideas, and who knows where they will go.