That station is at it again. The Ewing-based 101.5 (video from station’s site) held what it called the Flying Pigs Rally today, drawing about 700 pedple to the Statehouse to protest the governor’s debt reduction/toll hike plan.
Now, I’m all in favor of political rallies. But the role being played by 101.5 — given its history — bothers me. There is a question of motive here. I have no doubt that the radio hosts share a deep opposition to the toll plan. But I have to wonder if the station’s hsitory — in particular, its growth as part of the Florio backlash — had something to do with its participation this time around.
And then there is this:
featured a string of Republican legislators and candidates lining up to take turns blasting Corzine and Democrats for the state’s fiscal problems.
To emphasize:
No Democrats spoke at Friday’s rally. However, U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg and
state Sen. John Adler have said they don’t like the plan.
The Democrats, of course, deserve to be blasted, but it is disingenuous to blame only one party for the mess the state’s finances are in. Christie Whitman, after all, helped starve state government of resources by cutting the income tax and then left behind a timebomb by revaluing the state pension fund.
Gov. Jon Corzine is the first executive since Florio to take the state’s fiscal problems seriously, though his prescription is a bad one likely to have some unpalatable side effects.
In the end, what bothers me about this rally is the partisan use to which it was put.
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Hank Kalet 
Joe McCarthy and Father Coughlin,(minus the anti-Semitism), would be right at home at demagogue central, NJ 101.5. NJ 101.5 has no regard for facts, truth or valid information, just stirring up the pot to boost their ratings. It\’s a station that appeals to the brutish, the inner reptilian and to the lowest common denominator. So sad that so many New Jerseyites fall for this high volume trash with an echo chamber thrown in for good measure.
*** begin quote ***likely to have some unpalatable side effects.*** end quote ***That\’s like saying the operation was a success, but the patient died!This plan is a disaster on so many levels. Let\’s just pick the THREE worst.ONE: South Brunswick will be gridlocked by toll avoiders.TWO: Costs will go up for everyone as the tolls get passed thru by business. The money wasted will setup future problems.THREE: Future generations will be saddled with inescapable debt.And, the politicians, bureaucrats, and the other profiteers will have moved on to greener pastures. Leaving the taxpayers of New Jersey to bear the brunt and clean up the mess.That\’s a little more than a side effect. The answer is to drastically permanently and unalterable cut! Cut Trenton in half would be a good start. Taxpayers can\’t afford them any more. imho
*States of Opportunity*The Wall Street Journal – Feb. 12, 2008An old adage says high taxes don\’t redistribute income, they redistribute people. For new evidence look no further than migration patterns within the United States, as documented in a new survey by the moving company United Van Lines.A record eight million Americans — some 20,000 people every day — relocated to another state last year. So where are these families headed and why? The general picture is this: Americans are continuing to flee the Northeast and Midwest, while the leading destinations continue to be Southern and Western states.The United Van Lines study finds that the biggest population loser last year was Michigan, where two families moved out of the state for every new family that moved in. Americans are also fleeing New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Illinois.