Nothing easy about this — and it does not appear that anyone will come out unscathed. The state is facing a shutdown as the majority Democrats in the Assembly feud with the governor and the GOP offers a slew of unfathomable cuts. No one wins, especially the citizens of New Jersey.
Author: hankkalet
Hank Kalet is a poet and freelance journalist. He is the economic needs reporter for NJ Spotlight, teaches journalism at Rutgers University and writing at Middlesex County College and Brookdale Community College. He writes a semi-monthly column for the Progressive Populist. He is a lifelong fan of the New York Mets and New York Knicks, drinks too much coffee and attends as many Bruce Springsteen concerts as his meager finances will allow. He lives in South Brunswick with his wife Annie.
The Jon Stewart effect?
You know Jon Stewart is affecting the political process when the “researchers” try to prove he’s dangerous for democracy.
Two political scientists found that young people who watch Stewart’s faux news program, “The Daily Show,” develop cynical views about politics and politicians that could lead them to just say no to voting.
That’s particularly dismaying news because the show is hugely popular among college students, many of whom already don’t bother to cast ballots.
Notice the weasel word “could” here, as in these young potential voters “could” shy away from the voting booth, as if they were voting in droves now, as if Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity and Ann Coulter and all the rest of vapid, ignorant talking heads on cable on both sides of the aisle were not already keeping them home. As if the corruption scandals, ugly partisanship and general bad behavior of the folks in government were not enough to scare them away.
Priorities of the rich and infamous
A pointed two-part editorial from The New York Times on federal largesse for the rich and powerful and the lack thereof for the rest of us.
Bruce on politics — his Jon Stewart moment
I somehow missed this bit of Springsteen news, but my friend Bill passes it along:
In a recent interview, CNN’s Soledad O’Brien asked Bruce Springsteen (aka “The Boss”) about criticism he has received for taking a stand on political issues. Springsteen responded sarcastically, “Yeah, they should let Ann Coulter do it instead.” He added that there are “idiots rambling on on cable television on any given night of the week,” and called the idea that musicians shouldn’t speak up, “insane” and “funny.” Watch it:
Transcript:
O’BRIEN: In 2004 you came out very strongly in support of John Kerry
and performed with him – your fellow guitarist, I think is how you introduced him to the crowd. And some people gave you a lot of flack for being a musician who took a political stand. I remember…SPRINGSTEEN: Yeah, they should let Ann Coulter do it instead.
O’BRIEN: There is a whole school of thought, as you well know, that says that musicians – I mean you see it with the Dixie Chicks – you know, go play your music and stop.
SPRINGSTEEN: Well, if you turn it on, present company included, the idiots rambling on on cable television on any given night of the week, and you’re saying that musicians shouldn’t speak up? It’s insane. It’s funny.
O’BRIEN: As a musician though, I’d be curious to know if there is a concern that you start talking about politics, you came out at one point and said, I think in USA Today listen, the country would be better off if George Bush were replaced as President. Is there a worry where you start getting political and you could alienate your audience?
SPRINGSTEEN: Well that’s called common sense. I don’t even see that as politics at this point. So I mean that’s, you know, you can get me started, I’ll be glad to go. […] You don’t take a country like the United States into a major war on circumstantial evidence. You lose your job for that. That’s my opinion, and I have no problem voicing it. And some people like it and some people boo ya, you know?
Dispatches: Taxing questions for the state
My Dispatches column on the state budget.
Hank Kalet 
