[whataretheysaying] Mary Madigan: Smackdown

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Posted by Mary Madigan:
Smackdown
http://whataretheysaying.powerblogs.com/posts/1152501446.shtml


   The Star Ledger describes how New Jersey's budget dispute became a
   brawl. [1]Politicians and their egos were to blame, as usual:

     It was a fitting backdrop to the events in the Statehouse, for on
     that wet Wednesday, June 28, New Jersey's government was sinking
     into a deep and unprecedented crisis. The state constitution
     required the approval of a balanced budget by midnight on June 30.
     Without one, New Jersey no longer could spend money.

     But Corzine and his splintered Democratic Party were nowhere near a
     budget agreement. The stalemate would lead, three days after the
     flood's onset, to the first government shutdown in state history.
     No lottery. No new driver's licenses. No courts. No state parks or
     beaches. No work for 45,000 state employees. For a time, no horse
     racing and no casinos.

     Corzine lifted the shutdown order yesterday morning, one costly and
     tumultuous week after it went into effect. In a compromise with the
     Assembly Democrats who opposed him, Corzine won his
     penny-per-dollar increase in the sales tax. The Assembly members
     ensured that half of the new revenue would be earmarked for
     property tax relief.

     But if the settlement sounds simple enough, the path to it was not.
     Interviews with those involved in the fight paint a disturbing
     portrait of how a disagreement on policy became a perfect storm,
     fed by misunderstandings, mistrust, behind-the-scenes maneuvering
     and hardheaded stands on principle.

     To that volatile mixture add two strong-willed men, both rookies at
     their jobs: Corzine and Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts (D-Camden).
     Neither wanted to be pushed around by the other.

   "strong-willed men" - hardly. Petulant brats is more like it. Why
   didn't these morons wait untill recess and punch each other out behind
   the bleachers? Why did the New Jersey taxpayers have to pay their
   salaries and lose millions of dollars for the pleasure of witnessing
   their stupid brawl?

   Are we supposed to be entertained by this latest example of politics
   as a sporting event? I'm not. Even the blue state Star Ledger is
   disgusted by it.

   There's nothing we can do to stop politicians from behaving like
   idiots, dp the only solution to this is to put them in the ring, a la
   World Wide Wrestling. Dontate the ticket and popcorn money to the
   schools. Everybody wins.

   I'd pay good money to see Corzine, with his sweaty hair plastered to
   his pale, blotchy scalp, break a chair over Roberts' head. Or vice
   versa. No matter whose head gets smashed in, it's all for the good of
   the children. And the taxpayers.

   Can't wait for the Hillary vs. Gore death match.

References

   1. http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/index.ssf?/base/news-7/1152419924107890.xml&coll=1