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So because something is popular, that means it's a good thing?
Of course not. And I never said that. That would mean that, in the 18th Century, slavery was a "good thing" because it was popular. I would never suggest such a foolish "rule" and I'm rather confused as to how you could misconstrue anything I said to mean that.
All I said was that I liked Chris Christie for following up on his campaign promises, which is much more than most politicians can say. One of those promises happened to be a balanced budget.
Flanzo...this is really stupid. I was literally sitting on the NJ Senate floor when this upcoming budget passed. I heard the floor arguments. To suggest that the budget is not balanced is asinine.
I'm waiting for you to provide a legitimate source.
It's right next to the source that says that New Jersey is running a self-sustaining balanced budget.
I was wrong about double-digit, but not about the billion part. Pushing a $3 billion pension payment to 2013 isn't balancing a budget, it's avoiding a problem today so you can deal with it tomorrow. Know what happens in 2013? More cuts, because he can't push off the pension payment again.
So, he's right in the fact that his 2012 paper budget is balanced, but he's misleading people by acting like putting off a multi-billion payment until next year won't come back to be a problem next year. That $3 billion is still a deficit since the state can't afford to pay it. Anyone who can manage a check book knows that you can't avoid payments forever, he's going to need to pay that $3 billion and then it'll be "what happened to the balanced budget?" Oh, there never was one, that's what happened to it.
Like I said, a cute accounting trick, but still a trick.
In fact, DEMOCRATIC Senators used the fact that they cooperated with the Governor to pass a balanced budget as an argument for why he should concede on other political issues. I literally heard the words coming out of the mouth of the Senate Budget Committee Chairman (who is a Democrat).
In fact, DEMOCRATIC Senators used the fact that they cooperated with the Governor to pass a balanced budget as an argument for why he should concede on other political issues. I literally heard the words coming out of the mouth of the Senate Budget Committee Chairman (who is a Democrat).
Now you're confused in thinking I care what party a politician is from. Same animal, different color fur, as far as I'm concerned. I'm independent, I think both parties are brimming with buffoons.
Reaching across the aisle looks good for everyone, and those guys don't get reelected running publicized deficits.
New Jersey is a single state among 50. Whatever policies may be suitable for that one state may or not be suitable for the Nation, and vice versa. I don't know what long term issues you are speaking of, since you haven't suggest any...
Flanzo:
If you met me then you would understand that I am not a pretentious or entitled person. In fact, I previously worked for Corzine and a Democratic Senator. I like to work and try to take as little from my parents as I can. (Ex: I volunteered for my Bonnaroo ticket two years in a row). And I don't really give a crap about estate taxes - I was just trying to push your buttons because you were being rather condescending with me to begin with. I have no real beef with you.
The point I'm trying to make is that Chris Christie is only doing what any good politician should do - represent his constituents. He has been effective at delivering on his campaign promises and I respect him for that. It's much more than most politicians can say.
Aside from the fact that he vetoed the gay marriage bill, which is unfortunately a calculated political move for his inevitable run for President, he has been more good than bad in terms of representing his people. Isn't that how we evaluate our representatives?
And I don't really give a crap about estate taxes - I was just trying to push your buttons because you were being rather condescending with me to begin with.
Well, appreciate the honesty, even if I wasn't trying to be (or thought I was being) condescending. I don't even really dislike Chrsitie, but I don't like people pretending he's somehow better than other politicians. He's the same mold.
The point I'm trying to make is that Chris Christie is only doing what any good politician should do - represent his constituents.
Funny, I always thought good politicians try to do what's best for everyone, not just the people who voted for them. But in today's politics you say things to get people to vote for you and are forced to follow through, which is more an indictment on the system than any single politician. Some are merely trying to survive at this point, and I'd rather politicians not just tread water because it keeps them employed.
And the "more good than bad" is still debatable and the book isn't closed yet. When his term ends we can do an overall "more good or more bad?" comparison. My issue is he is misleading the public, as is the state senate which I admitted in a previous post. It's not just Christie, but with his personality and style (meaning he's loud) you can't really be surprised people focus on him rather than the underlings.
The budget for NJ is just over 30 billion. The federal budget is in the trillions if I'm not mistaken.
Also, NJ has a much different aggregate economy than the United States. They are two vastly different animals. I'm not hiding behind anything. New Jersey doesn't have to worry about nearly the same things as the Nation! (China, exchange rates, national security, etc.)
The point is that, New Jersey may or may not have a smaller hole to dig itself out of than the Nation. I think that's likely the case, and why austerity is more likely to succeed onu STATE than in my NATION.
The point is that, New Jersey may or may not have a smaller hole to dig itself out of than the Nation. I think that's likely the case, and why austerity is more likely to succeed onu STATE than in my NATION.
Austerity fails for school districts, it'll be a miracle if one where they're putting off payments until a later date will work for an entire state with a GDP in the hundred billions.
Sometimes you charge a lot on your credit card - beyond your budget. Hopefully you can just spend a little less next month and come out even. Other times you can't do that without stopping payment on the things you NEED to survive, so you take a balance into the following month while interest accrues. This latter scenario may eventually make you declare bankruptcy if you can't get you finances in order.
It may be possible that NJ is the former scenario and the Nation is the latter...
Sometimes you charge a lot on your credit card - beyond your budget. Hopefully you can just spend a little less next month and come out even. Other times you can't do that without stopping payment on the things you NEED to survive, so you take a balance into the following month while interest accrues. This latter scenario may eventually make you declare bankruptcy if you can't get you finances in order.
It may be possible that NJ is the former scenario and the Nation is the latter...
And, the main issue with austerity is the former leads into the latter, and once you start that process it's very hard to stop it.
Iamthehorn, I agree that austerity measures will shrink the economy. Just like cutting back on your personal consumption will lower yor standard of living for that month. The point is to stop collecting interest on debt or creating even more debt.
Do not misconstrue this as something I would advOcate on the federal level, as the federal govt. is beyond hopeless on this issue.
The next question to ask is "can we stop defecit spending long enough to overcome the debt without massacring the economy?"
No, probably not. And the question after that is what combination of President and Congress would either increase taxes or cut spending enough to do so. None, ever. It's political suicide. And there in lies the fundamental flaw of Democracy
Now that you have at least conceded that it's possible in some theoretical instance that New Jersey can balance its budget...I'm not going to pretend like I know when the most opportune time would be. Regardless, the People have spoken. They elected Chris Christie to balance the budget and that's what he's doing.
Like I have been saying from the beginning, Christie is simply a politician who was elected to do a job. To deliver on his campaign promises. And he's doing just that - which is more than most politicians can say after having been elected.
