The folks at MSNBC took a break from producing complete garbage for a change and posted an editorial by Chuck Todd that talked about today’s electorate. He specifically cited the failure of New Jersey’s stem cell research referendum to pass in this past Tuesday’s elections.
His point is an interesting one – what is it that could take a generally left-of-center electorate in New Jersey and have it defeat a generally left-of-center funding concept (this is not about the topic – stem cell research – which has bipartisan support in this state)? In other words, what is eating away at the electorate that they are against these types of programs? Another one of Todd’s examples is the failure of a private school voucher system in Utah – where it should have been a shoe-in.
This all comes down to an electorate that is dissatisfied and distrustful of government leaders. Who would trust the government to run any of these programs effectively? I sure as hell wouldn’t! I would trust a private company to be more efficient about certain programs, though, since they have a bottom line to worry about. Politicians are generally part of a bloated bureaucracy that doesn’t need to be concerned about fiscal responsibility. Everyone is guilty here – Republicans and Democrats. In New Jersey, though, the Democrats are really bad at fiscal responsibility as is evidenced by our ridiculous state budget and its many shortfalls. The stance that these shortfalls were all Republican produced is garbage. There have been more than enough Democrats controlling this state for a prolonged period of time that they could have cut the fat if they wanted to.
And this is an essential part of the problem in Trenton and why the New Jersey electorate is mad. The Democrats are just doing a bad job in this state with half-promises and go-nowhere policies…and the Republicans are not a viable option right now! What is the electorate to do in such a situation where you don’t trust your Democratic government and you aren’t excited about the Republican candidates? Simple. You vote “no” as many times as possible.
This is what the New Jersey electorate did on Tuesday and I, for one, am excited about what the electorate will do come Election Day 2008!
I would have to say I agree with most of what you say here. Although Christine Todd Whitman started alot of the recent financial chicanery with her tax cuts, the Dems are just as culpable and those tax rebate checks are the biggest scam going. A young couple with a house gets way less than a senior citizen. It is handed out regardless of incomes? How is that progressive in a state of lefty controllled gov’t? Joe, I may just dial on to another state where the cost of living is way less and my job pays more. My wife works for Continental Airlines and we can transfer to any of the states that have terminals for Cont. air.
Ha ha! Good luck! I’ve been looking at properties right over the river from Trenton.
I am looking a little further west…Like AZ and UT. Although FL pays well as well!