Another reason to leave New Jersey

Several years ago I had a good friend of mine in my cab driving her to work. She told that she was having trouble with a Rabbi stalking her. The damsel was at a disadvantage because the Rabbi was "connected" and she couldn't go to the cops. She told how a couple of times she had been to his mansion in the upscale town of Deal NJ and was surprised to see the entire bottom floor of the large multi million dollar home. When she walked in there were "about 20 Mexicans at sewing machines making fake designer hand bags."

This woman from time to time had been known to exaggerate, I mean, come on Hon, a RABBI is stalking you?  I didn't really want to believe in who or what she might be involved with. I knew the crowd she ran with was, well, shall we say "well organized." I had forgotten about our conversation until about a year later when I was watching the news.

 

For the rest of you in the United States, this is Jersey. Tony Soprano is NOT an exaggeration or fiction, he is an example of why New Jersey is one of the most expensive and inherently corrupt state in the country. Who ultimately pays for it? Consumers and taxpayers, the cost of bribes and kick backs have to come from somewhere. These guys shouldn't be glamorized or made to be heroes. The are low life thugs and and common thieves incapable of succeeding by the rules.

So for those of you who still live in Jersey, you can stay there and pay through the nose to be the butt of jokes. Perhaps a few of you will decide that there might be another place to raise your families, spend your retirement and live your life that doesn't reward evil and corrupt politicians and mobsters.

God and Politics

Woke up early today, for some reason during my first smoke of the day something came to mind from years ago.  I'm not sure what brought it to mind. If you follow this blog or know me in passing you might be surprised of what I was like ten or more years ago. I used to be a "Born Again Christian." Devout Baptist and every bit as boring as Ned Flanders. I won't even go into why I'm not now, or never will be again.

I did the whole nine yards of it with bible studies, retreats, tithing and saying all of the right things at the right times. For a short while I was a trustee at a small Baptist church in New Jersey. A trustee is a church member who with others oversee the finances of the church. Numerous long boring hours of my life wasted never to get back. Sitting around a table with aging stuff shirts debating the new roof or paving the parking lot argument.

The Pastor's transportation was provided by the church. The auto, it's maintenance and insurance came from the church budget. Along with the housing and health care for the Pastor and his family. Likable enough people. This morning during my first cigarette I recalled the time the pastor got into a minor fender bender that had been the other driver's fault. The ugly blue Buick that was church property got a little banged up but ran fine with no real damage. It just looked like hell.

Being great people of faith, they immediately saw God's powerful hand of control at work in their lives. Weeks later when the check from the other party's insurance company paid out about a grand for the damage to churchmobile, God in all of his glory had provided to those of great faith. It turned out the Pastor and his wife hand been praying in earnest for the Lord to provide them with the means of going on a cruise. The insurance check was almost the exact amount need for two tickets on a cruise line. Our God is an awesome God.

I saw it in a different light. The now uglier church owned Buick was in fact church corporate property, just like the parsonage. If the parsonage burned down, would the pastor get to pocket the insurance money? My position was the money should go into the church account. The church would get a nice little shot in the arm with a thousand bucks and our Pastor could show off how humble he is by driving a beat up old Buick. 



Instead weeks later we had to listen to how magnificent the buffets were, and how the couple ate non stop during the excursion. These were the same people who lectured me on "sins of the flesh and self control."  I guess leafing through a Victoria's Secret catalog at the mailbox is considered a sin, but eating 10 pounds of crab legs in one sitting isn't a sin.

There were a few instances concerning finances like that. There was a time the Pastor wanted the church to pay to have the parsonage basement remodeled so the Pastor's daughter and her son could move in. Already the large home housed the pastor and his wife, several college age children and an aging mother. Now we have to take up an offering to squeeze in one more generation? "Sorry, we ain't Amish, raise your own barn" was my thoughts. I was out voted 5 -1.

I discovered more about politics in church than theology. When as a trustee I tried to offer a check and balance to the spending of the executive branch, I thought that was the duty of a financial officer. Any filibustering on my part was quickly pointed out as an attack on the Pastor and his family, a stumbling block to the work of God, and I obviously was secretly living a sinful life to allow Satan to use me to stand in the way of the church.  Any critic was written off as an instrument of dark forces and should be hen pecked back into the folds of the flock.

Political lesson: When you try to stop a charismatic leadership from spending other people's money, his followers will attack you.

Negative Vibes

I don't know if it's just my corner of the world or if everyone is experiencing a real negative atmosphere lately. I am memorized by the constant feed of news that seems to out do it's self in a 24 hour cycle. Gruesome and cruel murders making the national news, a police state of molestation at the airport, rogue nations bitch slapping neighbors, national credit ratings far worse than my own and our President getting an elbow to the mouth while he's playing B-ball. 

 

I never gave much credence to the whole 2012 end of the world theory, at my age I have lived through a half a dozen end of the worlds. After a while you realize it's just writers selling books to gullible drama queens who want to build shelters in their backyards. I am beginning to wonder now a days. I half expect to wake up some morning to find huge space crafts hovering over every major city and announcing that the experiment is over. They must purge humanity from the petre dish we call Earth before it spreads and infects the rest of the universe like a oozing STD. 

I am almost looking forward to the end of the world, perhaps then those damn phone calls from the collection agencies will end. 

A Thanksgiving dinner that couldn't be beat...

For some people Thanksgiving wouldn't be Thanksgiving without binge eating on turkey, parades, football games or family dramas.  Well, the only tradition some of us hold dear is Arlo. 

I can't get enough of this guy

Wouldn't you love to see this guy as President addressing the Federal Reserve, United Nations or China? America might show some balls again.

2012

Originally this blog "From The Jersey Shore to the Big Easy" wasn't going to be about politics. I wanted to just keep it light and fun about moving from one environment to another. To tell folks back in Jersey that they can escape their parkway exit onto greener pastures. Write about all of the wonders New Orleans has to offer and what makes it so unique.

However as an editorial cartoonist from one of the most corrupt and politically manipulative states in the union, I can't keep politics out of it. We as a nation are in one of the most polarized times in decades. As a former Liberal who has watched the hypocrisy and failed policies of the Democratic Party drive down the standard of living in this nation, I have come to terms with being a Neocon.

My only regret about leaving New Jersey is that I can't watch more of this guy in action.  Christie is the politician that most Americans hope for. No bullshit, no favorites, no prisoners. Presidential material? Maybe. I would love to see him on the international stage. Let the world think that America is now being run by Tony Soprano from NJ.

T S A (titty-squeeze-ass)

 

Think about this: It's easier for an illegal alien to cross our nations border than it is for an American to board a domestic flight. All of this manpower, technology and resources are being deployed at airports, however the Federal Government is cutting back on border security.  Keep in mind, the passenger boarding a flight for America from Yemen, is NOT getting the same level of security as the American boarding a domestic flight in Dallas Texas.

You're Uncle Sam's Bitch....

Over my 48 years of life, I've been patted down by cops a few times. When I was younger with longer hair driving 40 mph in a 25 zone, I'd find myself leaning on the hood of my car. Standing there at one in the morning with red, white and blue lights blinding me as some bored hard ass cop searched me. The official law enforcement rational would be: searching me for weapons for the safety of the police officer, searching me for contraband.  Some little dicked jerk water cop hoping to find something to get a bust out of. (BTW in Wall Township NJ in '89 a cop totally missed a quarter once of weed stashed in my right work boot, ha ha)

There is another purpose behind these type of searches that probably most cops don't even recognize. Forget the weapons or drug finds, it has to do with keeping us in our place. It's the cop, TSA or just authority in general reminding us who is in charge. Nothing dehumanizes an individual more than to force them to submit to a search. Hands on the hood, spread your legs, you're my bitch. I will touch you anywhere I choose, I will rummage through your pockets and I can take anything off of your person that I choose. I am the Alpha, you are my bitch.

These airport searches by the TSA are rationalized by terrorism.  That's the surface story. Every mom, dad and child groped and prodded for the protection of all. I won't even go into the whole hypocrisy of political correctness in how everyone must be searched in order to prevent "racial profiling." If you're of middle eastern descent don't get pissed at the airport screeners for pulling you out of line for a thorough search. Get pissed at your 19 fellow countrymen for giving them a reason. When a 90 year old white woman hijacks and crashes an airliner, then we search everyone.

This is what is angering Americans so much about the latest airport screening procedures. Not just some rent a fed grabbing our junk, or seeing our out of shape bodies on a TV screen, it's us as supposedly free law abiding citizens being dehumanized. Being forced to submit to Big Brother, publicly reminded who is in charge. A demonstration of who has the power, who is in control and who is Uncle Sam's bitch.

Bust open an eagle

Government contracts are like pinatas to the private sector. Everyone wants to under one with open arms. Contractors swinging a broom handle wildly at a dangling goody filled paper mache eagle. Years ago I worked for a sign company that won a bid to repair some message signs at Naval Weapons Station Earl. The signs to be repaired were overkill when they were installed 20 years earlier, outdated the unneeded "refurbishing" was in the tens of thousands. I think my employer ejaculated when he learned he had been awarded the contract. Evidently the other sign companies must have been even greedier than the business man that I worked for.

My coworker who was the foreman on the job laughed as we inspected the antiquated equipment and wrote up a long list of "must be replaced." The work order was dropped on the desk of the company's owner as he squealed in delight at the thought of getting a check with that many zeroes. Both commented that we would be back in a year or two to completely replace the useless equipment that was to be repaired. This is typical of most if not all private contractors dealing with the government.

The stimulus money was viewed by such degenerates as the ultimate Power Ball Lottery. Every well connected contractor who had insiders steering their bids to the top of the pile drooled with erections waiting to be stimulated by Federal money.  I remember during one of Obama's less than inspiring campaign speeches, he droned on and on about a "Green Economy." A plan where replacing lightbulbs would return America back onto the path of prosperity.





Well, it did for a few.  A Federally funded $119 million weatherization program in the ever corrupt state of New Jersey made a few contractors very giddy.  I'm sure that abuse would've taken place in any of the other 49 states, but not with such blatant overcharges. $27 dollar lightbulbs and $75 carbon-monoxide detectors padded tens of thousands of theft.  Surprised? Not me, business as usual in New Jersey or Chicago or DC....

Yep, some Tony Soprano just got a new SUV.

Veteran's Day

On this Veteran's Day the Commander in Chief of the United States Armed Services is out of the country visiting other nations. Obama is busy trying to convince the world that the United States is very sorry if we may have offended them, and what ever it is that makes us so evil he will change.

On Veteran's Day we remember those who served.  If you get a chance today and want to to read one story about a man who served, check out a site I created to remember my father. A sailor who served in Vietnam. 

Frank Styles, USN

The Garbage State

Despite all of my beefs with the "Garbage State" of New Jersey, I like this Christi so far. He's got a lot of work ahead of himself if he wants to clean it up. In this clip he's serving up the most sacred of cows, the eduction system. Long history of overpaid scholastic bureaucrats sucking the taxpayer's tits dry.

How to debate like a Democrat

The conservatives have a terrible habit of making arguments with facts, statistics and history. Don't allow yourself to get dragged into that trap of "reasonable debate." Don't justify the conservative's position with an equally well constructed counter point. Just use name calling and insults to win over those not as enlightened as yourself.

Example, if a conservative argues that tax cuts will help in the recovery of nation's economy, just write him off as a puppet of big business. The conservative will counter with recorded history of this policy working in the past, just call him a doody head. Someone criticizes President Obama? They are a racist, end of debate. Don't waste your time listening to the countless examples of Obama's poor performance when you can just drop the "R bomb" win the debate so you go home to watch the Comedy Channel to be enlightened more on the evils of Conservatism.

Blame Bush, this strategy has worked for the past two years and will still work long past 2012. Is the conservative a female? She's a dumb bimbo. Is the conservative an African-American? He's an Uncle Tom who is being used by Republican Party.  Is the conservative over weight like Governor Christi? Perfect, he's a fat slob and there fore must be stupid as well. Be careful, if you start to use the obesity argument then Michael Moore's I.Q. falls into question. Remember the phrase "Tea Bag" never gets old and prevents wasting time on thoughtful arguments.

Keywords: stupid, dumb, racist, islamaphobe, bitch, dumb bitch, dumb bitch from Alaska, Bush, slavery, fat, doody head, tea bagger, homophobe, haters, war mongers, capitalist, rich, wealthy, white, very white, Glen Beck, moron, Fox News, 911 was an inside job, because Whoopi said so

to my nj friends

Let me clarify that these following rocket barrages of anger are directed at the State Government of New Jersey. I'm sorry if my friends in NJ feel like collateral damage in my offensive against their capital. As soon as the State of NJ surrenders under my terms and conditions, I will cease the onslaught of Jersey bashing humor. There are a lot of good people in NJ, but they never get to be seen on TV.

My friends in New Jersey, I feel for you. Every hour of your life wasted at a toll plaza, I've been there.

(Judging by the look of Christy, I don't think you need to worry about this one.)

Take a walk, we'll tax your feet

Craigslist Responce

I posted my blog ATTENTION TRENTON on Craigslist Central NJ "Rants & Raves" to see what kind of a response it would get.

It is not a personal savings account that you can tap into when you hit hard times. It is not YOUR money. It is basically a tax....Get used to it. I pay THOUSANDS of dollars in taxes to everyone and I dont get anything back. You paid for years into a system that will give you NOTHING back in return. Thats why we all hate democrats. 

First off: With the tax came a promise that it would be used on Unemployment benefits, NOT building roads and bridges that are over priced because of kick backs. Just like the Feds did with social security tax. Taking it under the premise that it would be there when we need it. Now we hear "Opps, we spent it." 

Second: GET USE TO IT? This reply must've been written by a State Government employee. Perhaps you could replace the state motto on your license plate from "The Garden State" to "GET USED TO IT." He evidently is just a hack bitch who willingly gives it up in taxes, then expects nothing promised in return.

Third: Let's blame the Dems?  Are you so naive to trust either party any more? It's good cop / bad cop and we fall for it every election. Our choice is what we deem the lesser of two evils.


This was my favorite response on Craiglist Rant and Rave:

Your taxes implied you would receive services if needed????
- Dont you think your tax dollars go to ANYTHING whereby you benefit? That is a shame your state taxes done benefit you in any way shape or form. I guess you run to put out fires that could burn down your community, heaven forbid. I guess you run out there and direct traffic when the traffic lights go out. I guess you drive up and down shoveling all the roads so you can make it to work. I guess you empty your own garbage at the dump yourself....Negro, please.....be for real. 


No, those things were supposed to be paid for by the other taxes, property tax, income tax, sales tax and dog licenses. Every time they introduce a new tax it was to address a particular deficit, or to fund new programs. Do we ever see the direct result from that tax? No, it goes into a spitoon of spending. I did not want my social security money funding the cold war either.  (he called me a negro)

I ain't no Mark Levine, but I wanted to get that off of my chest.

Attention: Trenton, NJ

In the HBO series Treme, John Goodman's character does a Youtube rant directed at the Federal Government. He explodes in rage at his city being let down and hung out to dry by the very system that was supposed to be there in a time of need.  His exasperation was expressed with what has become a catch phrase down here in New Orleans.

In this blog, I have written how I was denied Unemployment Insurance from the state of New Jersey after paying into it for over 25 years. The reason given for denying me unemployment was because I voluntarily left my employment at the cab company and moved to Louisiana. The economy in NJ was so bad and the cost of living so expensive due to inherent corruption that I could not survive on the couple hundred dollars a week that I was earning.

The way I see it, I loaned you the money to hold onto it until such time that I may need it, if ever.  After  faithfully giving you my money for over two and a half decades to do with want you wanted, you renege. You refuse to return in monthly payments what I have only paid in. You refused to take that money and give it to my daughter to cover my child support payments. Where are all of those dollars that I gave you? They paid for a swimming pool in the back yard of some Guido's mansion.

For years I had said the only ones in New Jersey who can make it are politicians, union officials and mobsters, New Jersey's Holy Trinity.  Supposedly, the new Governor Chris Christy is making some changes in Trenton. We'll see. Ever see what happens when you try to take a food dish from a corrupt dog when it's eating? Watch your back in NJ.

Well New Jersey, you got busted. I hope the film "The Saprano State" leads to investigations and long prison terms for all of the corrupt, graft taking and lazy bureaucratic sloths that have been stealing from the hard working New Jersians. All of us who have been paying into the system of nepotism and kick backs want to see heads roll. Don't get so riled up over your well earned reputation. You deserve it. NJ is not the garden state, it's the den of thieves state. I got out of that neighborhood because I was tired of making pay offs to criminals through a high cost of living.

To the lazy, triple-chinned, pencil pushing redundant bureaucratic bastard who probably never had a real job in his life, but made the desician not to give me my unemployment insurance, FUCK YOU YOU FUCKIN FUCK! May you be unemployed and be out of work next, lose your over priced McMansion on the out skirts of Trenton.