Would-be president Barrack Obama stated it’s embarrassing that Americans go to Europe and all they can say is merci beaucoup.
The senator is extremely wrong on this issue. While speaking foreign languages is a fine skill, it is not embarrassing that I don’t. Obama is embarrassed of me and any other American who does not speak a foreign language. I took French my freshman year in high school. I took Latin for a few years. I took Spanish in college. But 20+ years have passed and I am no longer conversant (stated as though I ever was).
The very first foreign words I learned was when I was a young boy . . . so young I still peed the bed. For some reason I spent the night at my aunt and uncle’s house in Easton, PA. My cousins were 10 years or more older than I was. Cousin Sherry apparently was learning French. She taught me a phrase because it was a hoot to have a little boy say it, I am certain. I was a good student as I have not forgotten it.
It seems appropriate to write here. So, Sen. Obama, fermez la bouche.
This budget takes us through a turning point and confirms our commitment to a common sense principle of finance, often ignored, that we should spend no more than we take in.
Gov. Jon Corzine yesterday pressed the Legislature to revive New Jersey’s school construction program to the tune of another $3.9 billion.
No, that isn’t in the fiscally responsible state budget. Nor is the the threat Corzine issued taxpayers this morning on Good Day Philadelphia about funding infrastructure:
I’m not anxious to move forward with a gas tax. I really think we’ve got to find another way.
First of all Gov. Wall Street, the word to use is eager not anxious. Besides that, threatening to raise gasoline taxes if you do not get your toll increases just may be the issue that sinks your re-election. New Jersey voters are ultra-liberal, but they already know they are being gouged and aren’t going to accept much more.
They refused you on both issues previously. (Remember dear reader, Corzine’s first act as governor was to indebt us for 30 years to fund the Transportation Trust Fund for five years. Time is beginning to run out on that (of course, after the gubernatorial election) and he needs to find another shot of money to keep things going.) Now you’re pitting one tax against the other expecting the taxpayers to pick the lesser of two evils.
What was responsible about this monstrous budget you just signed? Bridges, roads, and school construction cannot continue to be funded outside the budget.
From the looks of this article, it appears that the eCache household will cease to be Verizon customers in the future.
The basic phone service, consisting of a dial tone and unlimited local phone calls, could rise from $8.95 per month — the lowest basic phone service in the nation — to $16.45 over a three-year period, according to the draft settlement negotiated by Verizon, the staff of the Board of Public Utilities and the New Jersey Division of Rate Counsel.
That’s us. Mind you, we do not pay that $8.95, more like double that once all the taxes and fees are added to it. We dropped long distance on the land line years ago when we purchased minutes for $0.025 apiece. Then we did away with that when we made the plunge to wireless. The choice statement comes from a New Jersey politician:
“I think it is a fair deal for the ratepayer,” said New Jersey Ratepayer Advocate Stefanie Brand. “It makes sure people who just want basic phone service will continue to be protected.”
How is doubling the rate fir to the ratepayer? That is akin to the public utility people raising energy rates by 20%. Oh wait, this is New Jersey; we do stuff like this. I’ve suspected all along we would drop the land line. This is probably the proverbial straw. Our wireless plan is up in December. I am eager to move to the iPhone. It’s a little more expensive than our current plan, but we would get some texting (no big deal) and unlimited data (a very big deal!). Of course, we would need to purchase the phones. Hmmm . . . would two iPhones stimulate the economy?
The new motto for the Garden State needs to be We Can’t Afford It. The other day I wrote about the Bayshore Heritage Byway that is proposed. As wonderful as it is, we can’t afford it.
The Daily Journal picked up on this as well. Today’s editorial is about expanding healthcare coverage to those who can’t afford it. Our elected officials say it will cost a mere $68 million more dollars this year. Sigh . . .
New Jersey has the highest property taxes in the nation and one of the worst business climates in the country. The state is at least $32 billion in debt and is facing structural billion-dollar budget deficits for years to come. Abbott school districts, including Vineland and Millville, have raised taxes and cut teachers. The state is planning to cut municipal aid and charge rural communities for state police coverage. The state simply has no money, and has its hand out to taxpayers for more.
We need to hammer home this message because the folks in Trenton just don’t get it.
This instills confidence in our correctional facilities:
Egelsen is the latest in a string of corrections employees from Cumberland County’s three state prisons to face criminal charges ranging from drug-trafficking to murder. He could not be located for comment Friday. The Press of Atlantic City
String of? Sigh . . . I certainly am happy they are catching these folks. It would be good to place them within the same population they were overseeing. I suspect that might curtail the activity rather quickly.
