In America blacks who are more likely to benefit from welfare programmes than richer whites are much more favourably disposed towards redistribution through the fiscal system than white people are.

ECONOMIST: The poor like taxing the rich less than you would think

Democrats are calling for redistribution of economic and fiscal tax breaks from Wall Street and the rich to Main Street and the middle class.

FORBES: Bring Back Housing By Bringing Back Tax Shelters

The concentration on redistribution policy and the developing status quo-like conditions indicate that the fiscal cliff fight is not a fight over making economic conditions better for the middle class.

FORBES: How Will The Middle Class Fare In The Battle Over The Fiscal Cliff?