tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4277252353094864173.post8028000799323519067..comments2023-07-07T11:11:36.818-04:00Comments on deciminyan: My ApologiesDeciminyanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17564328932408891465noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4277252353094864173.post-38838624423931814752010-12-05T10:27:19.943-05:002010-12-05T10:27:19.943-05:00The rich get richer - Even after Christie struck d...The rich get richer - Even after Christie struck down Corzine's "millionaire surtax", the rich still pay a higher percentage of their income in NJ taxes than in almost every other state.<br /><br />The middle class gets to pay more taxes - Taxes generally go up under Democrats and down under Republicans. This is not controversial. I thought Democrats were proud of it ("Republicans are such scrooges".) One reason our taxes are so high is a liberal state supreme court that ruled that poor school districts must be funded not at average levels but at the level of the most expensive school districts in the state. Meanwhile, the more money that is grabbed from middle class taxpayers for these purposes, the more that can be siphoned off by the Wayne Bryants of the world.<br /><br />The poor get screwed - This is the one that seems to throw you the most. Anti-business, anti-growth policies harm the poor more than anyone else. The vast migration of (not-rich) Californians to such places as Arizona, Nevada, Texas and (believe it or not) Oklahoma is not due to the poor social safety net in California, but rather to a political environment that prevents jobs from being created for them. In the last two years, Texas has created more jobs than the other 49 states combined. It is undoubtedly making some of the hard-working people who create those jobs wealthy. That is a good thing, not a bad thing.Glen Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14763536109594088795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4277252353094864173.post-87271780199918467212010-12-04T23:07:36.026-05:002010-12-04T23:07:36.026-05:00The bottom line under Christie's platform of &...The bottom line under Christie's platform of "shared sacrifice": The rich get richer. The middle class gets to pay more taxes. The poor get screwed.Deciminyanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17564328932408891465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4277252353094864173.post-72850160960058684522010-12-04T20:32:19.836-05:002010-12-04T20:32:19.836-05:00Christie's overall poll numbers seem to be tre...Christie's overall poll numbers seem to be trending upward. Not many politicians can say that.<br /><br />Is he a bully? The townhall videos I have seen show him being blunt in his answers, but always giving the questioner ample time to ask and respond. I don't see that as bullying. I have not seen the videos where the state police have escorted some people out, but I suspect the change in behavior is on the part of the questioners, not Christie.<br /><br />A number of Democrat congressmen had persistent questioners escorted out of town halls last summer. I don't recall them being characterized as bullies, instead there was much commenting about rude and angry Tea Partiers. I guess it depends on whose ox is being gored.<br /><br />Here's the bottom line. The three states almost universally described as economic basket cases are New York, New Jersey and California. Two of these states chose to continue on their high-spending, high-tax paths. (California's choice is almost comical, at least if you don't live there.) The third state has chosen a different path. Let's wait and see how it turns out.<br /><br />I guess I can paraphrase Michelle Obama and say for the first time in memory I am proud of my state.Glen Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14763536109594088795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4277252353094864173.post-67611267880570719932010-12-04T17:59:57.592-05:002010-12-04T17:59:57.592-05:00Glen -- I don't think your statement ("Th...Glen -- I don't think your statement ("The majority of New Jerseyans don't see Christie as a bully") is true. According to a Quinnipiac poll in June, 44% of New Jerseyans described him as a leader, to 43% who described him as a bully. And this was in June, before he really revved up his bully act in town meetings and across the US. <br /><br />http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x1284.xml?ReleaseID=1465&What=&strArea=;&strTime=0Suzanne Libourelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08335345006749584164noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4277252353094864173.post-68901559659816270842010-12-04T13:29:32.172-05:002010-12-04T13:29:32.172-05:00Glen,
This post was about Christie's childish...Glen, <br />This post was about Christie's childish demeanor, but since you brought up the superintendents' salaries, I would agree with your point on consolidating school districts. In Burlington County, I would prefer a single school district with one superintendent making, say $300,000, over the 30 or so districts, each with a superintendent getting $150,000. And that's just the tip of the iceberg in the potential for savings.<br /><br />Comparing Christie to the other political hacks is OK, but remember, Christie has the platform and visibility of our chief executive and his behavior should set an example for our kids. Using the State Police and his persona to bully teachers in public who have a difference of opinion is inexcusable, childish, self-defeating, and ethically wrong. Compare this to the lesson that Jon Corzine taught after his accident. He told the kids in the state that he was wrong not to wear his seatbelt, and showed that as a wealthy man, he would not burden the state with his medical expenses and paid out of his pocket. Whether you agree with Corzine or Christie or neither, Corzine is a mensch, Christie is a bully.<br /><br />See you Monday,<br />SteveDeciminyanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17564328932408891465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4277252353094864173.post-6072570330919704342010-12-04T08:22:04.830-05:002010-12-04T08:22:04.830-05:00Christie's biggest argument came with a school...Christie's biggest argument came with a school board member (of a district that has all of two high schools) who wants to pay his superintendent $216,000 a year instead of the measly $175,000 mandated by Christie.<br /><br />As a supporter of consolidating school districts, I thought you would support this.<br /><br />The majority of New Jerseyans don't see Christie as a bully. They see him as someone standing up to union and public sector hacks and thugs that have been bullying us for decades.Glen Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14763536109594088795noreply@blogger.com