It does no good to say "make the tax cuts permanent".
That would require a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate -- which we don't have.
The absence of a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate is why the Bush tax cuts were temporary in the first place.
The House can vote to extend the Bush tax cuts for up to ten years, however.
That would help immensely no doubt.
I was suggesting what should be done, not what could be accomplished.
But then, we are assuming anyone really wants to fix this mess.