I just want to be clear about this. The two top Republican candidates, Chris Christie and Steve Lonegan, want to cut state income taxes at a moment in state history when we don’t have enough revenue to cover what we now spend.
Lonegan’s plan — a flat tax — would shift the tax burden downward, cutting taxes for most New Jerseyans making more than $70,000. As for the folks at the bottom of the income ladder, they would see an increase in their state income taxes. Seems a tad unfair, if you ask me.
Christie, on the other hand, wants to cut taxes in some unspecified manner that will depend on revenue projections while eliminating state jobs (which ones, he won’t say). This seems to be pure pandering.
Neither plan addresses the real issues that face the state — too many overlapping layers of government, excessive property tax bills, the high cost of living and its impact on lower- and middle-income folks.
Hank Kalet 
A flat tax on everyone does have the advantage of getting everyone\’s skin in the game. One of the problems we have in the USA and NJ is that there are people get benefits at zero cost. So, of course, everyone wants more. Sorry to say, but we can\’t afford gooferment and its \”programs\”. From education to roads, we are just out of gas. Wasn\’t it Thatcher that said: \”\”The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people\’s money [to spend].\”That\’s what has happened to the US and NJ, the soft tyranny of socialism. Or, maybe it\’s a new form of fascism.
I don\’t think anybody thinks we can afford it (at least this year). So onto the hard work. Lets pick three programs to cut. Here\’s a link to this year\’s budget so we can see what there is:http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/omb/publications/09approp/index.shtml
Maggie T. never got rid of the UK national health care system and free university for the qualified.She did screw up the UK version of Social Security and the Brits are quite angry about that.The flat tax is great for the billionaires like Steve Forbes. Guys like Forbes are the real fascists, they don\’t give a flying hockey puck if there are tens of millions uninsured and under insured.Hey, let\’s cut taxes to the prisons and set all the prisoners free, that should be interesting. Hey, let\’s cut taxes for the roads, bridges and infrastructure but don\’t complain when your car disappears into a giant black pothole.
Lonegan is a far rightwingnut Neanderthal doofus.Lonegan went to Newark on Martin Luther King Day to state his opposition to an affirmative-action program, making his announcement on Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. In 2006, as Mayor of Bogota he called for a boycott of McDonalds because……are you ready for it…………… McDonalds had a sign in Spanish for a flavored ice drink. He felt that was a great insult to us \”regular Americans.\” Hmmmm, Bogota sounds like a Spanish name to me.