Bringing Thunder-ous Change to New Jersey

Democracy and Power 114:  The Power Players
                                
Who actually controls the force of government?   The politicians and interest groups control the American political process.  As stated, the politician seeks power.  Special interest groups – big business, small business, unions, education, seniors, and a multitude of others – seek favors: tax breaks, subsidies, exclusive legislation, etc.  Interest groups give enormous money to political campaigns, and receive gigantic benefits in return.


Bringing Thunder-ous Change to New Jersey

In Real Clear Politics, George Will observes the enormous deficit and gigantic taxes leveled on the citizens of New Jersey.  The public employee unions have lobbied and received big salaries, overly generous medical and retirement benefits.  Those burdened by the tax – entrepreneurs, small business owners and even some of the public employees – have exited to lower tax states.  

Finally, the electorate recoiling from the personal tax burdens elected Chris Christie.  As governor he has enormous powers and has unilaterally slashed the deficit. As George Will said, “Now comes the hard part.”  Governor Christie seeks to cut back the overly generous salaries and benefits of the public employees.  Will recognizes the battle in Trenton will be the binging of battles in America between public employees and the taxpayers.

In the state that has the nation’s fourth-highest percentage (66) of public employees who are unionized, he has joined the struggle that will dominate the nation’s domestic policymaking in this decade — the struggle to break the ruinous collaboration between elected officials and unionized state and local workers whose affections the officials purchase with taxpayers’ money.