I haven’t linked to or summed up a word about the “fiscal cliff,” not because it isn’t local — it is, sorta — but because it was a minor news story. It was always going to be averted. It was a self-made, TV-ready “crisis.” And it ignores the real big issues of government, the ones that have lasting effects and that change who we are as a nation and how we’re perceived around the world.

So although this is a local column, it’s meant to discuss the topics of the day, and today all anyone wants to talk about is the new tax deal Congress made in the wee hours to avoid the “fiscal cliff.” For example, everyone wants to know which state reps voted for or against it. Or they want to giggle at men in power telling each other to go eff themselves, as though that is news.

This is all grand theater, made so because there is a natural right-left political narrative that develops, which is the only thing most people care about discussing when it comes to national politics. When there is bipartisan agreement, there is no story, because the media — local and national — don’t feel comfortable pointing out that bad, even dangerous legislation can result from bipartisan agreement.

For example, I give you the unending shame of the Obama administration: his continued failure to protect ordinary citizens from warrantless wiretapping. This happened Sunday, when President Obama signed into a law a five-year extension of the FISA Amendments Act of 2008, which among other things basically allows the National Security Agency to wiretap you at will. (It was a Dubya thing, but now it is an Obama thing.)

To see how complete a failure of governance this is, how much it should scare and shock you, please read this fantastic recap from Glenn Greenwald, the only reporter doing serious work on this issue. As he points out:

Unfortunately, this is par for the course. The failure of the Obama presidency to make government more transparent and answerable to its citizens has been total yet mostly overlooked. (Here is a wrap-up from this morning, as well as the great Charles Pierce calling out the press for ignoring the issue. )

Meanwhile, the local talk shows and TV broadcasts and editorial pages will be filled with fiscal cliff discussions, the political junkies fapping themselves like TV critics after a particularly juicy episode of Homeland. In neither case do the discussions about what liberties are at stake, about really matters, come to the fore.

Elsewhere

How’s THAT for soapboxing? Huh? Move over, Mark Davis!

Meanwhile, KKDA-AM is sold to a Korean owner who turns it into a Korean station, which I think is perfectly legal. However, it does offer a lot of white journalists who never listened to it the chance to decry the silencing of a black radio voice in Dallas. So that’s fun.

JFloyd (I’m really tired of having to go back to my browser five times to figure out how to spell her name) says Dallas is totally a happening joint. Hard to argue. Although it’s a giggle to see Sharon Boyd on the comments complain about a lack of development in Northwest Dallas, because her campaign against legal strip clubs was, she thought, certain to change everything.

The Arts District parking garage will soon have an office building on top of it.

Anna Merlan continues to have the best blog posts about the ugly Texas v. Planned Parenthood court battle.

Retweets

Bring it, bitches.

Boom.