St Patty''s Day Rant

Good morning. What is the road ahead? This recession will go on for at least 2 years if not for another 5 years. Gov Christie's cuts is just the latest example. The cuts will cause local govts to cut back AND raise taxes and reduce services. NJ transit raises fares along with SEPTA and every conceivable utility. The lucky pi ions like me might get a 3% raise but wage freezes and increased health care costs.
Meanwhile the Democrats do not know how to be a majority party and do what they were elected to do.
With less earning power folks will not be buying as much. This is important since in the good ole US of A, consumer spending is80% of the economy. People growing cynical will elect more politicians who use scapegoats such as welfare recipients, minorities and other less desirable folks who really need govt assistance.
Yup, that Tea Party, funded by Dick Armey and other right wing groups who want to see more corporate power.
If given the choice between BIG INSURANCE and big government, I take the later. You ask why. Well, govt is accountable and the public has the right to ask questions and get documents and information. Also, folks do not like when the govt makes money but they (Tea Baggers and their ilk)do not mind BIG INSURANCE paying off Congress to delay and dilute health care reform. If it does not pass this year and becomes a winning issue with our Republican Party, we will not see ANY reform for 25 years from now. I will be 73 years old. What will Medicare and Social Security look like.

Yesterday my boss at the Welfare Office suggested that I look for a job with the Federal Govt since my commute is so far. He also states he may do the same since the job is getting worse, the union PSSU sucks and takes anything from the state, and after 3 promotions he makes only 10 grand more then I. We started in training together back in 1992 when I was single.
He expressed the opinion that many folks hired by the state welfare department are not that well-educated and thing state employment is great and would not back a strike for better working conditions and pay. I have to agree with this assessment. Folks just want health benefits and job security. They will take staffing cuts and increased work loads as the price.

This is how the rich get richer, exploiting insecurities in the public and pitting one set of people against the other for their self-interest.
As a govt employee, I enjoy a pension and health benefits that were negotiated years ago. Politicians with better benefits and perks rail against the "overpaid" govt employee making 30 to 60k. On the other hand Congress and state legislators have the best health care and paid govt vehicles with free auto insurance. Oh yea, I love it that the head of NJ Transit makes more then a member of Congress or the President. This clown can propose a 25% fare increase with a straight face. No wonder Republicans and their allies can make working-class vote AGAINST THEIR OWN INTERESTS!!

I see good people that want to leave Millville and become less involved due to personal and political reasons. Meanwhile the politically connected respond with dismissive attitudes. Also this same group think this way of doing thing is just dandy cause they are "entitled" since they worked so hard. HELLO...we all work hard but not all of us can pander and get benefits and jobs from our overloads.

Will the Levoy ever get built? Does anyone care to let us know?? I live right near it and Odgren Construction has not started even though they said it would start weeks ago. Well, they got theirs.

What about the Arts District? Will the nay-sayers gloat and say, "I told you so"?? How bout the Arts Center? Will it remain viable in the face of UEZ cuts and cuts to arts funding that are sure to come. I guess the retired teachers and their sewing circle will let all of us know, right.

Does the Constitution specifically allow government funding of the arts, public assistance, UEZ. I suppose Thomas Jefferson wrote this document to say for the next 300 years the govt will ONLY fund War, roads, and public safety. I await the Constitutional scholars to educate me on that. I love it when conservators carry the Constitution like THEY OWN IT!!


Well, its now time to get to work