[sig226]

A lot of the damage has been done by the courts, not by the elected officials. Google Mount Laurel II for a good description of how to destroy a wealthy area. A lot of the other damage is done locally. The people rarely vote in the local elections and the politicians know it. They end up dealing with the loud mouths, the ones they know will stir up a storm if they don't get their way. A very small number of people influence the governments there.

I am delighted to have left.

[MinnesotaLibertarian]

I think you make a good point about the culture in New Jersey. It's extremely different from Minnesota, where we have some of the highest voter turnout in the country, and corruption is much less rampant. I think culture makes a big difference - we don't have people exploiting state benefits and social programs the way that people seem to in New Jersey.

I just moved here about a year ago - I was transferred from Minneapolis to New York. While Minnesota taxes are actually worse than New Jersey, the overall cost of living in Minnesota is much lower. I sold my house in St. Paul and found that I couldn't afford anything here that wasn't in a complete ghetto. Right now I'm renting and waiting out another chance to transfer (or get a new job), either back to Minneapolis or to Chicago. Where did you relocate to? I also would like to leave, but I definitely do NOT want to follow the herds down south.