Posted by
Always To The Right on Tuesday, October 14, 2008 8:27:39 AM
In a season of crazy polls, one in New Jersey stands out for its revelation of obtuseness. The Monmouth University/Gannett New Jersey poll
shows that almost a majority of adults want to leave the Garden State,
thanks to the high cost of living and government. Apparently the 49%
who object to these costs don’t realize that they can vote for a more
responsive — and less costly — state government
That’s simply not true. In places like the old Soviet Union,
Zimbabwe, and the DPRK, people have to vote with their feet because
they don’t have a meaningful vote otherwise. In America, people can
vote with their ballots.
If New Jersey government has gotten so out of control that a
majority of adults no longer want to live there, the less costly
alternative would be to vote out the current government and try a new
direction. Organize for different candidates. Try a couple of recall
petitions to get the attention of the political class. Start pushing
back on tax hikes and bond issues.
I’m actually sympathetic to the impulse. I left California for a
better job opportunity eleven years ago and managed to avoid the
debacle of the current budget deficit, which is three times greater
than Minnesota’s entire annual state budget. However, I also know people who leave here
for less-costly states, and at least some of them are the people who
sported “Happy to Pay for a Better Minnesota” bumper stickers on their
cars. If people want less-costly living, then they need to recognize
that government isn’t a charity organization and push for smaller, less
costly government instead of demanding government solutions to every
problem and then getting itchy feet when the costs hit home. Pretty
soon, there won’t be any place to run.