The Mob That Whacked Jersey. How rapacious government withered the Garden State

City Journal.com ^ | January 16, 2007 | by Steven Malanga

[goldstategop]

More like Old Mexico. The electorate seems prepared to live with Democratic corruption because there's no viable political alternative. As I noted, in the Northeast, real conservatives for elective public office are virtually non-existent. With the disappearance of the Rockefeller GOP, all that's left standing are the Democrats. The "Gypsy Moths" are histoire.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[relictele]

This is why land ownership was originally a requirement for voting.

[ZULU]

Part of the problem represents those New York emigres.

They brought with them the belief that government has a responsibility to provide those services New Yorker City folks consider so very essential to their survival - and older New Jersey residents got along without just fine for generations.

These people scream about the high cost of government but would be the first to complain if little Jimmy or Susie had to walk several blocks to school or to a bus stop, instead of getting picked up right at home, or if they didn't have all kinds of activities after school so both parents could pursue "careers" instead of assuming the responsibilities of parenthood (just one example).

Also there are the two biggest blood-suckers in the civil service world - the Law Enforcement Unions and the Teachers Union.

There are probably more Cops per square mile in Jersey than anywhere since Hitler's Germany: municipal cops, County cops, park police, County police, sheriff's officers, state police, and institutional police. many, if not all of these units' members can retire after 20 years of service at something like 60% of their salary and perks and benies which would make your head spin. If they hang in there a few more years, they can even get 75% of their base salary. THEN they retire and get ANOTHER civil service job covered by another union in the law-enforcement area, which allows them to double-dip at public expense. Unlike ordinary civil servants, the Cops can retire on a retirement based on the last year's EARNED INCOME, not salary. SO in the last year of employment, it is common practice for Jersey Cops to scoff up as much overtime as possible to boost their pensions.

The teachers can retire at 55 with similar perks and benefits and don't even pay into their health benefit program.

ALL civil service positions in New Jersey allow their employees to retire with paid sick leave for a certain percentage of their accrued unused sick time.

IN ADDITION, in New Jersey, it is common practice for well-connected elected officials who draw a minimal salary as part-time "employees" as elected officials, to get appointed to one of the many lucrative commissions and committees which exist at fantastic salaries which, using the retirement formula of the highest paid years of service times the total years of service, they are able to "retire" with substantial benefits, far beyond anything the average civil service clerk could ever obtain. Additionally, the experience of these individuals for the appointment plums they receive is often minimal to none.

Sheep are meant to be sheared.

[You Dirty Rats]

We have many of the same problems in Ohio.

[oceanview]

and the thing is - Corzine has high approval ratings.

[ZULU]

No.

Corzine's last approval rating was 38%.

But that doesn't mean anything.

Sheep, in addition to being basically lazy and stupid, have short memories.

[oceanview]

very true. The rich in NJ - are Dems - they make their money by being connected to the corrupt system the government provides. The other constituencies in the state - the poor, the lower middle class, government workers - are all natural Dem voters too.

there is no one left to vote for change.

[ZULU]

"With the disappearance of the Rockefeller GOP"

The "Rockefeller GOP" was and is, part of the problem. They vote, think and act like Democrats, but can assuage their elitist pride by referring to themselves as "Republicans", instead of associating with the vulgar masses.

[oceanview]

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newjersey/ny-bc-nj--corzine-oneyear1225dec25,0,4282969.story?coll=ny-region-apnewjersey

"...said Corzine, whose approval rating has climbed from 39 percent after taking office _ and after proposing $2 billion in tax increases _ to nearly 60 percent in recent polls."

12/25/2006

[Lancey Howard]

Excellent post.

[Paleo Conservative]

there is no one left to vote for change.

Well, there's always voting with your feet.

[Rumplemeyer]

Don DiFrancesco, "Donny D" was exposed by Bret Schundler as a corrupt little turd, this caused the RINO Republican "Establishment" to withhold support, it was "Donny D's" turn.

The result was Jimmy "Fudge Pants" McGreavy and a lot of rude "New Jersey" comments.

The Old Guard RINO Establishment needs to be run out and a leader with a "Contract With New Jersey" platform based on the 1994 Republican "Contract With America".

Remember, the Left didn't institute all these changes at once, it took 30 years, it can be undone, but it won't be undone in one electing cycle.

We "the great unwashed" must begin to take back our government, one battle at a time, the one thing the Left fears above all else is an informed electorate.

[oceanview]

yes, but wherever you go - in time, the same problems are coming there.

[MinnesotaLibertarian]

I wouldn't lump Whitman in with the others. She was the only one who actually cut taxes and spending. Unfortuantely, 7 years wasn't enough time to undo decades of damage. It would've taken several more Republican administrations do really get something done.

[dmartin]

There is only one party in New Jersey. The titles and the debate are all for show. Some towns have gone so far as to eliminate the party affiliation. West Windsor for instance does not allow candidates in its mayoral elections to run under a party heading. Given the fact that Democrats and Republicans are two sides of the same coin in this state, I am sure it suits them just fine.

What is most amusing about being surrounded by liberals is that they all complain, threaten to move and as Ivan mentioned they crawl through broken glass to vote for more of the same each and every year.

It may be too far gone to bother. It may be the perfect spot to test out a new party. Hoping to reform the GOP in New Jersey is a fool's errand.

[ZULU]

I heard a few days ago it was 38%.

Well, never underestimate the gullability and stupidy of the American voter - especially in Blue States.

The man is a LIAR. He said he wouldn't raise taxes.

Not only did he RAISE taxes, he CREATED NEW ONES!!

And his phoney act about just dicovering that the state was badly in the red after taking office is nonsense. How could his stool pigeon Codey not have told him, assuming he was naive enough not to know already?

[ZULU]

Thanks

[ZULU]

The RINO establishment, under the leadership of Lewis Eisenberg, also torpedoed Brett Schundler's candidacy for Senator and gave it to little Tommy Kean Jr., RINO Tom Kean Senior's little boy.

Not unexpectedly, he lost since he provided little or no alternative to Menendez, aside from running a crappy personal campaign instead of focusing in on the issues. But then if he had done that, people would have realized how identical these two fools are.

[ZULU]

PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Whitman cut taxes all right - A LOT! Then she DIDN'T cut programs, payroll or expenditures. What do YOU think the result of that was?

Also, Whitman gave the Easy Pass contract to a bunch of crooks, and pretty much wasted her term of office demonstrating how much of a leftist liberal she was.

When she got herself appointed as EPA chief under Bush, probably Witt Eisenberg's money, she proceeded to demonstrate how little she knew of that subject. Then she tried to cut the feet off the guy who put her there (Bush).

After she left office she wrote a book which went NOWHERE called "Its My Party TOO" - all about how the Republican party is a Big Tent that should have room for limousine liberals and Rockefeller Republicans like her.

Maybe she should write a book about how the Democrats should make room for conservatives.

Its not without reason that Ann Coulter refers to her as "birdbrain" in one of her books.

Whitman's fiscal irresponsibility started New Jersey on its road to economic ruin. McGreevey and his successors just helped push it along a lot faster.

[ZULU]

Move.

But don't bring any of those New York City emigre libeals with you.