NEWJERSEY: The pension mess

Saturday, December 25, 2010

http://channel-surfing.blogspot.com/2010/12/tell-me-again-whos-at-fault-for-pension.html

Thursday, December 23, 2010
Tell me again who’s at fault for the pension mess

*** begin quote ***

The state treasurer announced today that the state pension shortfall is at an all-time high.

*** end quote ***

>It’s the shock doctrine or disaster capitalism at its best.

Be nice if these two terms were defined? Or, perhaps, these are terms d’art of the Liberal media. You can’t seriously define what has been going on in the USA since say about WW2, (although some little L libertarians woud argue the “turning point” was 1913 with the income tax, the FED, and the Seventeenth!), as “capitalism”! Maybe “mercantilism”, “federal socialism”, or “empirical nationalism”?

> We have a huge Great Recession, the worst in more than 70 years

I’d call it a depression. But then I’m out of work. So I guess since you’re drawing a check, it’s only a recessions.

>what a great opportunity to kill off public sector unions and all
>their pensions and benefits. Private sector wages have been falling or
>stagnant for years, private sector benefits and pensions have been hallowed >out or become extinct.

But weren’t public sector pensions raised when private pensions were supposedly higher? So it’s logical, that, when private pensions become “cash basis defined contribution plans”, public pensions change as well.

(Note for those that don’t read my blog, I thought that CTW’s failure to make pension contributions or address the problem was terrible. “Pensions and benefits” are a FRAUD perpetrated on the working class. Without getting into yucky details, a business can pay $X for a certain unit of work. Now out of that $X, if the business “pays” $Y for “benefits”, then the worker gets X-Y. But, their “benefits” are tied to their job. So, let’s use life insurance as a concrete example. And, let’s keep it simple, life insurance costs either the company or the employee X$. Why don’t we just let the employee buy hi s or her own Damn insurance? Cause the Gooferment, the Company, the Politicians and Bureaucrats all have a vested interest in screwing the worker. And, everyone plays along with the fiction that some how this is “better”. Not better for the worker when he or she gets laid off, downsized, or whatever euphemism for fired you want to use.)

> race to the bottom in which American workers must compete with Chinese
> or Indian workers who earn a few dollars a day and have absolutely no
> protections or benefits.

So, instead of moaning and groaning, we have to learn to compete by moving up the value chain. We have to clear the road blocks to successful competition: taxes, regulation, education, paradigms / memes, and energy.

>Teachers and other public sector workers did not cause the Great Recession

Well, maybe they did. They have permitted the dumbing down of society. And, their union is absolutely out of control in the incestuous relationship with the professional politicians. Finally, as voters, they participated in a process that was designed and accomplished the destruction of the USA.

>they will be made to pay the price for the crimes of the
> Wall Street criminals.

As we all are!

> Katrina was the disaster

of Gooferment!

>

We have to separate the Gooferment from “Education”. If we are to have any hope of saving “the American Experiment”.

# # # # #


NEWJERSEY: Red light cameras

Thursday, December 16, 2010

http://nbs.gmnews.com/news/2010-12-16/Front_Page/SB_once_again_considering_redlight_cameras.html

S.B. once again considering red-light cameras
Route 1 intersections would be most likely locations
BY SAM SLAUGHTER Staff Writer

*** begin quote ***

Some streets in South Brunswick may soon be much safer. At the Dec. 7 Township Council meeting, council members discussed the implementation of a Red Light Running Automated Enforcement pilot program and are taking the necessary actions to move forward with the plan.

*** end quote ***

No fund raising here?

And, guaranteed to increase accidents. (Has elsewhere as folks stomp on the breaks!)

And, why not make the length of a “yellow” into standard time duration? (Answer, more tickets!)

And, why not make roads “intelligent”? (Sitting a light with no cross traffic encourages blowing; more tickets!)

And, why not focus on accident reduction? (No incentive; less tickets!)

# # # # #


NEWJERSEY: Base salary of $73,469 earned $321,985. Where do I apply?

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Speechless!

http://www.myfoxny.com/dpp/traffic/traffic_news/audit-excessive-perks-for-nj-turnpike-employees-20101019-apx

Audit: NJ Turnpike Wasted Millions On Perks
Updated: Wednesday, 20 Oct 2010, 8:55 AM EDT
Published : Tuesday, 19 Oct 2010, 10:27 PM EDT
BY LUKE FUNK

*** begin quote ***

MYFOXNY.COM – Auditors say the New Jersey Turnpike Authority wasted $43 million on unneeded perks and bonuses. In one case, an employee with a base salary of $73,469 earned $321,985 when all payouts and bonuses were included.

*** end quote ***

No one should ever have a salary greater than the President or the Governor.

In this case, it’s fraud. If I was the executive or the auditor, I’d want to see time sheets. Did this person ever get sick? It’s at best abuse. Worst, fraud!

Shameful!

# # # # #


NEWJERSEY: Even the liberals are getting restless

Sunday, September 26, 2010

DSCN0032

Guess that about sums it all up!

# # # # #


NEWJERSEY: “Pivatize” DMV; just return it to the Insurance Companies

Saturday, July 17, 2010

http://www.northjersey.com/news/politics/070910_Christie_looks_to_privatize_motor_vehicle_inspections.html

Christie looks to privatize motor vehicle inspections, other services
Friday, July 9, 2010 Last updated: Thursday July 8, 2010, 10:20 PM
BY CLAIRE HEININGER State House Bureau

*** begin quote ***

New Jersey would close its centralized car inspection lanes and motorists would pay for their own emissions tests under a sweeping set of recommendations set to be released by the Christie administration today. State parks, psychiatric hospitals and even turnpike toll booths could also be run by private operators, according to the 57-page report on privatization obtained by The Star-Ledger. Preschool classrooms would no longer be built at public expense, state employees would pay for parking and private vendors would dish out food, deliver health care and run education programs behind prison walls.

*** end quote ***

So, now, libertarians in training, pay close attention to another lesson in Gooferment!

Why is the State involved at all in “car inspection”?

Yes, little Johnny, you had your hand up first.

“To steal wealth from the people while forcing them to do what the State wants them to do!”

Verrrry gooood.

Before we had Gooferment car inspections, we people killing themselves deliberately in unsafe cars? Were innocents being killed or injured by unsafe cars? As a matter of fact, if you caused an accident, your lawyer would have to defend that claim in a court. If the plaintiff (i.e., plain “tiff” which is a computer picture format. Funny?) could prove that the defendant’s car was a POS, then the jury would punish plaintiff. And, plantiff’s insurance company. (Do you see where I am going here?)

Fast forward to today. All accidents are “no fault” and the State inspect your car that we all pay for in our taxes.

Who won on that proposition?

Insurance companies (transferring their costs to the taxpayer), politicians (rewarded by the insurance companies while they had contracts and jobs to give their friends), and bureaucrats (who had cushy jobs to earn big bucks and big pensions).

And, “We, The People” get our wealth stolen, while we still have to check our own cars for safety on a regular basis.

(BTW — By The Way — for extra credit, why not take a stab at guessing how the new and used car dealers felt about “mandatory inspections”? Just follow the money and it will all be revealed to you.)

Following along the same logic.

What would happen if “Governor Christie” really wanted to “privatize”?

“My fellow Taxpayers: There’s no reason for the State of New Jersey to be involved in the current auto scam at the behest of the Insurance Companies. So effective <Pick your favorite date. July 4th 2011?> People will be responsible for themselves, their actions, and the consequences of those actions. Good bye ‘no fault’ accidents. Should you have an accident. The police will arrest all involved who can not prove they have adequate in-force insurance. Those arrested will have adequate opportunity to post bond *in the amount of the accident’s cost. I have directed by my Commissioner of Insurance to come up with an easily understood table mapping the number of cars, number of injured, number of killed, and estimated property damage to the bond amount. (In all but the simplest fender benders, it will be in the millions. So if I were you I’d get insurance. Insurance companies, who are recognized by the State as deserving and credit worthy, will be allowed to sell drivers ‘insurance’. Proof of such insurance will be accepted by the police at accidents to be evidence of fiscal responsibility and allow the drivers to proceed without arrest. It will be responsibility of the Insurance company to identify the drivers they insure, the cars then insure, and all processes concerning that. The Gooferment will operate the police and courts as before. OK, now let’s stay safe out there.”

The Taxpayers wouldn’t be subsidizing the Insurance Companies. The politicians and bureaucrats wouldn’t be getting rich off us either.

# # # # #


NEWJERSEY: Kyleigh’s Law a big mistake

Sunday, July 11, 2010

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20100710/OPINION02/7100313/Kyleigh-s-Law-a-big-mistake

Kyleigh’s Law a big mistake
July 10, 2010
JAKE NIEMAN
Kendall Park

*** begin quote ***

The law is much too strict, with the costs far outweighing benefits. Our legislators have spent considerable time and manpower on passing this bill. The law was passed in hopes of reducing teen driving fatalities, an admirable goal. There are approximately 5,000 teenage driving deaths per year, a large number alone but when in comparison to the total numbers not as bad.

*** end quote ***

I agree, Jake. But see you’ll learn that three things motivate politicians: rewarding their friends, punishing their enemies, and feathering their own nests. And, I’m not sure as to the correct order. In this case, the politicians and bureaucrats “win”. You can’t vote, and usually don’t, so who cares if your rights are infringed. The costumed thugs, masquerading as police, get to steal more wealth. And, obviously, we need more bureaucrats to support this diktat, who turn around and vote religiously for their patron sainted politician. My biggest fear is that the Gooferment has put a huge bullseye on young drivers. If I’m a criminal, who should I target. Reminds me of when the (imaginary) State of Florida removed all rental car identification and aggressive tourist-injuring “hot” car thefts dropped dramatically. So, if I had a child, I wouldn’t permit them to put this modern day “Star of David” on any car they drove.

# # # # #


NEWJERSEY: We’re number two — in expensive insurance

Saturday, June 19, 2010

http://www.doughroller.net/insurance/auto/most-expensive-states-to-insure-your-automobile/

The 10 Most Expensive States to Insure Your Automobile
by DR WRITER on JUNE 16, 2010

*** begin quote ***

But then there’s one variable a driver sadly can’t do much to change and that’s geography. Here are the ten states in which it’s most expensive to insure a motor vehicle (Criteria was identical across all states):

District of Columbia – Perhaps due to its #2 spot on the list of worst traffic gridlocks, residents of our nation’s capital can expect to pay an average of $1,140 in insurance premiums each year.

New Jersey – In the Garden State, an annual premium of $1,104 is typical.

*** end quote ***

Argh!

# # # # #


NEWJERSEY: An attack on First, Second, and Fifth Amendments

Saturday, June 12, 2010

http://www.nraila.org/Legislation/Read.aspx?ID=5897

New Jersey Politicians Want A List of NRA Members and their Employers!

*** begin quote ***

In a blatant attempt by entrenched New Jersey politicians to strong arm citizens who oppose their re-election, Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein (D-14) and her co-sponsors have introduced legislation which would require certain contributors to issue advocacy organizations, including the NRA, to have their names, addresses and their employers information sent to the government. A2595, if passed, will mandate that any issue advocacy organization classified under IRS Code as a 501(C) (3), 501 (C) (4) or 527 that engages in the election or defeat of any person to State or local elective office; the passage or defeat of any public question; or that provides political information on any candidate, must submit the names and addresses of contributors and their employers to the Election Law Enforcement Commission.

*** end quote ***

Argh!

Is she, and the political elite, out of their minds?

Does she support “listing” the Teacher’s Union membership? Name and address!

# # # # #


NEWJERSEY: “Public Education” is immoral

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

http://channel-surfing.blogspot.com/2010/05/voucher-hypocrisy.html

Monday, May 10, 2010

Voucher hypocrisy

*** begin quote ***

Bret Schundler jumps into the voucher hypocrisy pool, dismissing stats that contradict his claims and call into question his proposals.

*** end quote ***

Don’t you think that Gooferment-run schools propagandizing future voters is immoral?

Don’t you think that funding them by stealing wealth from unwilling victims is immoral?

Don’t you think ripping children from their families and imprisoning them for many hours a day for decades being “taught” to be good little robots is immoral?

Don’t you think allowing the Teachers’ Union to become an overpowering force in politics is immoral?

Don’t you think that “public education” in the inner cities (a failure by any measure) is immoral?

Answer those then we can chat about how it’s ineffective and inefficient.

# # # # #


NEWJERSEY: Skrul Vote (Yeah, I know why bother!)

Sunday, April 18, 2010

What: April 20th School Board Elections

When: 04/20/10, 07:00 AM-9:00 PM

Where: Your local polling place.

Details: Please make sure you go out and vote today for Board of Education members and budgets.

Now more than ever your vote is necessary as we face cuts state wide.

Please also make sure to tell and remind everyone you know in New Jersey

(Check with your local polling place to voting hour, they are not the same as in the general election)

# – # – #

At the very least, go vote AGAINST the budget!

Yes, I know it doesn’t matter because the vote will be over ruled by some bureaucrat somewhere.

But, keep sending a message: “Over taxed”, “Mad As Hell”, and “We need a paradigm and meme shift”!

OK, the last one is geeky but we do.

The paradigm of “public education” as something that is “good”, “unifying”, or even “needed” needs to change. Other than ads by the teacher’s union, no one would defend that “public education” is effective or efficient. Look at our world ranking for effective and look at the costs for efficient. Time for a paradigm shift.

The mene of “public education” needs to be updated. Even if you believe in fairy tales like jumbo shrimp, the Tooth Fairy, and honest politicians, we must understand that “public education” currently means “taxpayer-funded gooferment-run indoctrination”. We need to parse each part of this meme and examine if it’s rational.

  • Taxpayer-funded? Shouldn’t parents pay for their children’s education. If for no other reason than “he who has the gold makes the rules”.
  • Gooferment-run is asking for a disaster. No one can name one gooferment program that works. If you can find one that does happen to meet its objectives (and, I think that’s like an imaginary number), how much does it cost.
  • Indoctrination is obvious. How can we let the gooferment train future voters. Mann and Dewey brought in the Prussian education model to make cannon fodder for the Army and factory workers that could be led by the elite. (Where does Obama send his children to be educated? All but one President has done the same. Coincidence? Not!)

SO please go vote against the budget, we’re on the wrong path and it’s the only way to register a protest.

# # # # #