Archive for the ‘New Jersey’ Category
Friday, May 16th, 2008
A few years ago my mother turned me onto Thomas Sowell. What a well-reasoned man. His thoughtful discourse is a force of conservatism. I enjoy reading his words. It took until today for me to disagree with him.
Anyone who doesn’t like chain stores is free not to shop there. But that is wholly different from saying that they have a right to stop other people from exercising their own freedom of choice. That’s not too “complex” to understand.
The above was the ending to his treatise. Yes, downtown America is against Walmart.
Sowell does a good job of highlighting the importance of the big box stores. Chains permit those stores to sell goods at a lower price. Of course, that is good for the customer. Therefore, big box stores are good for us.
Sowell contends this is good for towns, despite whether or not people want these stores. Some towns construct laws against chain stores. Sowell argues that towns are doing themselves (and their citizens) a disservice by doing this:
Fortunately, enough sanity eventually prevailed that Fair Trade Laws were repealed. But the emotional needs that such laws met were still there, and today they find an outlet in hostility to Wal-Mart and other “big box” stores– especially in San Francisco and other bastions of the liberal left.
People have every right to indulge their emotions at their own expense. Unfortunately, through politics, those emotions are expressed in laws and administrative decisions by people who pay no price at all for indulging either their own emotions or the emotions of the people who vote for them.
But this is where Sowell runs afoul. Those laws can be good for the community.
I grew up in historic Victorian Cape May, NJ. There were no chains in this tiny seaside resort. I believe there were laws preventing chains from establishing business there. It was after I moved away that the town finally acquiesced to two Wawa convenience stores. But you’ll never find Walmart, McDonald’s, or other national chains there. And that is beneficial to Cape May. The town attracts its visitors by selling Victorian architecture, wholesome family activities, and quaint businesses (antiques, bed and breakfasts, etc.). Collectively, all businesses and citizens benefit by not having big box stores on the island.
Dismissing small towns from constructing its business climate the way it sees fit, Sowell undermines business plans for communities that work. Does this equate to Walmart being big, bad, and evil? Absolutely not. But certainly we can agree that Walmart does not have to have a place in every town. It isn’t that complex, is it?
Posted in New Jersey, Politics | No Comments »
Thursday, May 15th, 2008
Why does a march against gangs happen on Father’s Day? How about honoring Dad instead? . . . TwitterLocal is pretty kewl. Here is the feed for Millville and 20 miles out . . . I am getting old. My students had physical education today. Whilst picking them up, I took a couple swings with the “Nerf” covered bat. I swung so hard on the second pitch I hurt my wrist. Even so, the ball slammed off the far wall. My students were impressed. 
I’ll pay for this for a few days, I am sure . . . Haven’t been watching The Factor much recently. The more air time Dick Morris gets, the less I am inclined to tune in. He’s been wrong with his analysis throughout the campaign. Why does this john still get a platform? . . . Not that I am following this at all, but the headline caught my attention. “Because of this case, I have been financially crippled,” McGreevey told the judge. Oh please. The divorce hasn’t harmed you, your corrupt nature has affected your earning power. I am fine him not paying his wife millions. She seems to want servants, helicopters, and the like. But “the Gay American” should be forced to pay a certain percentage of his income, just in case he is not playing it straight in the trial. History says it’s a fair bet he isn’t . . . Hey, Sen. Obama, I understand your use of sweetie. I use sweetheart several times a day. Of course, I say it to nine- and ten-year old students . . . Just in case anyone thought government does not overstep its purview, check out what New Jersey is pushing through the legislature. Citizens apparently no longer have the right to not purchase health insurance . . . Oh, I can’t believe suing is going to help Carla Katz with the union . . . I have to say I agree that the NJ DOE should seek to recoup squandered tax dollars from school districts who misused the funds . . . FWIW, playoff hockey is exciting . . . Forget closing the state parks. I just found $143 million to cut from NJ’s budget. This money comes with no strings attached. I thought Corzine got rid of the Christmas tree fund. I guess not. Really, Garden State voters: how long are you going to vote for corruption? . . .
Posted in Education, Family, New Jersey, Politics, Sports, Twitter | No Comments »
Saturday, May 10th, 2008
It really seems that New Jersey lawmakers go out of their way to show disdain for the taxpayers of this state. How else can one reconcile the latest scheme brewing in the state Assembly?
On Monday, the Assembly Environment Committee is scheduled to discuss a 10-cent deposit for bottles and cans less than 24 ounces and 20 cents for larger ones up to 3 liters. The bill would apply to juice, sport drinks, water, soda, wine and beer containers.
Is this what taxpayers in New Jersey need right now? Despite us not being in a recession as some Garden State lawmakers have asserted, the economy is not going well. A $.10 deposit per bottle/can adds to the cash leaving citizens’ pockets. Sure, they can get the money back by burning fuel and having soda residue drip all over their trunks, but why make us go through that dance?
It’s not about the environment either.
Nope, this adds money to the state coffers that can then be raided like every other fund of cash is. Remember the huge tobacco settlements? Yeah, you don’t hear about that anymore, do you? That is because it is now a liability for New Jersey. Instead of having money coming in from the lawsuits, we are paying interest on the money that was leveraged off the sale of the settlement. And that is exactly what will happen to the tin can money this silly legislation will produce.
New Jersey will be no greener, but we will be poorer and jumping through the hoops to get our cash back.
Right now I have no need to rinse an empty bottle of soda. When it is done, I toss it into the recycling can. On Friday, I carry the can to the curb. The recyclers come by empty the can and I start all over.
Under this legislation I will pay a tax fee for the bottle. I consume it and then have to wash it out. Why? Because if I don’t, the last drop or two will end up emptying into my trunk (or all over me when I transport it). The empty bottle will then be placed in a plastic bag. To hell with using the recycling can. It is too big to lug around to wherever I am going to redeem the bottle. Furthermore, it has drainage holes at the bottom. That will allow all the excess to spill in my car. The plastic bag will be discarded as it will be too sticky to reuse. The recycling can will be discarded as it now has no use.
How is this saving the environment?
This is another slush fund your elected officials are proposing.
Posted in New Jersey, Politics | 2 Comments »
Wednesday, April 30th, 2008
Tonight when I sat down to check something I noticed an e-mail from a fellow geocacher who asked me if I had seen today’s Star-Ledger. No, I had not. After searching online, I wasn’t able to see what Ken had pointed to so I went out and paid the $.50 for the paper copy. There it was on the Op/Ed page.
It seems New Jersey’s state paper printed part of the piece I wrote the other day about closing the state parks. Mind you, it ignored the under story to why Corzine proposed closing the parks. It would have been nice to have had a heads up that they were going to run the piece.
As I draft this, I finally found the piece online. It’s part of the Ledger’s New Jersey Blogs section.
Posted in New Jersey, Politics | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, April 29th, 2008
Governor Corzine is quoted today as saying:
I think it is absolutely essential that we get our fiscal house in order
Indeed, New Jersey does need to get its house in order. To that end, while I would have preferred to see deep cuts in the proposed budget, I recognize Corzine has at least proposed a budget no other recent governor has and that is to hold spending nearly flat overall.
Unfortunately, Corzine is itching to spend. His “house in order” quip was the follow up to calling a proposed fast food “a constructive suggestion.”
That’s right, the King of Wall Street thinks the way to put New Jersey’s house in order is to raise taxes.
When will the plan include spending cuts?
Really, we’re going to begin taxing Happy Meals to keep the spending going. Unbelievable! It is time to recognize that this governor is not good for New Jersey.
Posted in New Jersey, Politics | No Comments »
