...For restoring my faith in the voters of even that very "Blue" northeastern enclave.
On Tuesday the voters of New Jersey voted down 2 of the 4 ballot initiatives on spending grounds - voting down a proposed one penny rise in the state's sales tax, supposedly fund property tax relief and another that would've borrowed $450 Million to fund Embryonic Stem Cell (ESC) research.
The only monetary ballot initiative that passed in the Garden State was one that allowed the state to borrow $200 million to "buy land for conservation and recreation, to preserve farmland, acquire flood-prone land in the Delaware, Passaic and Raritan river basinsand fund historic preservation projects.
ALL three of those referendums broke down along the same 57 - 43 lines.
Most interesting, at least to me, was New Jerseyans voting down the $450 million to fund ESC research, despite that 71% of the New Jerseyans polled this summer claimed to support ESC research.
As Star Ledger reporter, Tom Moran siad, "The meaning (of this election) was unmistakable. Voters no longer trust Democrats to handle their money."
Loretta Weinberg, a Democrat from Bergen County said, "We better straighten up and get our house in order. This progressive Blue state is asking questions about what we Democrats actually stand for. The dialogue is going to be different now."
If voters in New Jersey don't trust Democrats enough with their money, even enough to trust them with funding ESC research, supported by those voters almost 3 to 1, then maybe that explains why the new Democratic Congress' approval rating remains more than 10 points BELOW G W Bush's anemic numbers.
Apparently fiscal restraint and lowering taxes really IS important to the vast majortiy of voters Democrat AND Republican.
At any rate, THANKS New Jersey! You did good!!!
Maybe it's just me, but it sure seems there have been a number of heartening signs on the political scene lately, i.e. Bobby Jindal; perhaps the 2008 election will hold even more surprises.
ReplyDeleteWe can only hope Mick.
ReplyDeleteAs things look right now, 2008 seems to be shaping up as a race between two very flawed candidates.
Both Hillary and Rudy have high negatives and quirky personalities that could melt down at any time.
You're right about Bobby Jindal and even 2006 saw a major surprise, in the form of a wave of "New (mostly Conservative) Democrats" that helped the Dems take back Congress and now those Conservative "Blue Dog" Democrats comprise over 20% of the Dems in Congress, so I'm with you in hoping there'll be even more surprises in 2008.
lookin good my friend...lets hope the upward swing continues eh!
ReplyDeletei was soooo excited to see this happen. it's heartening for all of us!
ReplyDeletegreat post, jmk!
I hope so too Angel!
ReplyDeleteOh, and the 4th ballot initiative was changing the wording that barred mentally and psychologically "incompetent persons," from voting. The old language referenced "idiots" and "the insane."
That passed.
It IS good to see the people of NJ voting to rein in state spending, at least a little.
I think it's a good first step Heidianne, a very good first step.
ReplyDeleteSo long as the NJ voters continue holding their politicians feet to the fire, they may be able to turn things around a little bit.
Right now, NJ ranks right behind Louisianna in terms of corruption and out-and-out political abuse.
So, in a sense, there's almost no way for NJ to go but up.
it's not much better for kansas city, jmk - too much mob history in both places... i'm blogrolling you, i just can't resist!
ReplyDeleteThanks Hedieanne....ditto.
ReplyDeleteYou're a good egg.