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.

Only procreators should marry?

I have to share this letter from the Hillsborough Beacon, which takes issue with our editorial on same-sex marriage. John Tardy writes that same-sex marriage is an oxymoron. “Marriage,” he writes has “for millennia meant the union of a male and a female human with the intent to create and raise a family, i.e., have children of their own and to nurture them into adulthood.” So, while gay and lesbian couples “can ‘borrow’ someone else’s children or family one way or another, the basic function of procreation that is at the core of a marriage is physically defunct in such situations.”

Procreation, apparently, is the key, which leaves heterosexual couples like my wife and I — who tried but couldn’t have kids and others who have adopted, or older couples who marry after they no longer can create a child — outside of this very narrow definition.

I am sure that Mr. Tardy would make an exception for my wife and me — we have what he would consider compatible equipment — and I have to say I’m honored. Of course, making such an exception knocks the foundation out from under his initial argument.

Email me at grassroots at comcast dot net.

Corzine stimulated by Obama program

http://www.wnyc.org/flashplayer/mp3player.swf?config=http://www.wnyc.org/flashplayer/config_share.xml&file=http://www.wnyc.org/stream/xspf/124755

Gov. Jon S. Corzine told Brian Lehrer on WNYC today that between taxes and federal spending New Jersey should see more than $17 billion in relief from the stimulus. About $7 billion will come in the form of tax relief to residents, with the rest coming in money for programs.

Corzine said that the state would have little impact on how the money is spent — the bulk come in the form of Medicaid and unemployment aid — but that lawmakers will have to sort some infrastructure dollars. The president has told governors that he expects money to be spent on shovel-ready projects that are chosen via an open process, Gov. Corzine said.

He says the stimulus money should save or create about 100,000 jobs.

He also said that there needs to be a process to track the money, to ensure that it is being used for its intended purpose.

The numbers, of course, are mind-boggling — but the spending is necessary and should be a huge help in a state hamstrung by budget problems, in terms of keeping people afloat and saving jobs.

Let’s be clear, however, federal money will not solve New Jersey’s fiscal predicament. That is something that all of us — politicians and taxpayers — created because of our unwillingness to make hard choices. There is not a New Jerseyan who has not screamed to save his or her pet program or to keep his or her property tax bill or income taxes from going up. Until we realize this, we will never climb out of the budget hole we’ve created.

Email me at grassroots at comcast dot net.

Assembly’s turn on prescription pot

The Star-Ledger is reporting that Gov. Jon S. Corzine plans to sign legislation approved by the state Senate on Monday that would legalize so-called “medical marijuana” — or pot used by terminally ill or patients in chronic and debilitating pain to allow them a more comfortable and normal existence.

The governor apparently told radio announcer Brian Lehrer on WNYC this morning that he thought the legislation could be crafted to provide relief while also offering safeguards.

The bill passed the Senate on Monday, but is unlikely to get through the Assembly until after November’s election, during what is called the lame-duck session. That’s when legislators tend to handle controversial proposals (repeal of the death penalty, for instance).

I wish the Assembly had as much courage on this as the governor is showing. Like all 80 Assembly members, the governor is up for re-election, but he faces what is expected to be a difficult battle.

Email me at grassroots at comcast dot net.