www.CostaRicaTicas.com

According to MSNBC this afternoon, 44 politicos and clerics in NJ got busted today on a variety of charges, mostly about abusing the public trust and money laundering. This reaffirms NJ as the #1 state in public corruption and we've long been the highest in combined income/ sales/ property taxes. If you can't be #1 at being the best, be #1 at being the worst--it's the mediocre middle I can't stand. So bring it on Massachusetts, New York and Illinois--we stand ready to defend our crown...California did beat us to being technically bankrupt but we're rumbling up their rear on that too...

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"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

In terms of sheer dollars stolen per square mile I bet Miami has them all beat.

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mh

If you compare Miami to,say, Newark--a big MAYBE. If you compare Dade County with Union County--we win in a walk; it's not even close. My references include that Sly Stallone movie Copland as well as The Sopranos. Those disorganized Cubano rabble and the crackers in the Dixie Mafia you have vs. Italians/ Russians/ misc. Latinos groups we have?--puh-leeze--spare me. Hell, even our Jewish criminals smoke yours.

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"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

jersey represent!! union county baby!! haha

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"El Chino Rico" | el.chino.rico@hotmail.com
Trip Reports - 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th

Jazz, although I do have my Philly roots, I have spent much of my life in Chicago. Now, I don't care what state you are in, nobody has the Daley machine as we do in Chicago.

Dean

Now Brother Dean we both know the Daley "machine" is a shadow of its former self and while it may have SOME sway in The Wind, they all have US Attorney Fitzgerald or his hungry successor lookin' at'm every minute. Meanwhile our USA is somewhat distracted by running for Gov. and only got the low-hanging fruit--a bunch of mutts if there ever was one. Besides I'd compare the Boss Hague Machine to anybody's for tight grip and outright rapacity. But we're talkin' history, guy. Let's move up to the present, what say? I'll give you style points though.
No, our only real competition is South of us--just so glad DC isn't a state--we'd cringe in embarassment. No joke.

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"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

Well, considering our EX Governor (Blago) is about to go to jail (BTW, that would be Governor #4 of our state to spend some time behind bars)... ,




I would beg to differ on that statement

My opinion on the South, they can't keep a secret. They have so many that they get confused, hence some truth comes out. No offence to the South. Great people and 100% American.

Dean

We should just elect an ex-con as governor in IL. At least he would be qualified! Maybe a parole incentive?

Dean

OK here's a scenario--Blago goes to jail, gets all gay there, then moves to NJ and we elect him as our Gov.. Sound like a plan?

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"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

It depends on his choice of LT govenor. The number of tatoos, how much gold in the mouth, how baggie is the wardrobe, and most importantly, the capability of seeing everything and then saying "I don't know". That is a critical skill of any Lt.

Dean

I believe NJ is unique in not having a Lt. Governor--The Pres. of the Senate steps up--and that worthy may well be not only of the other Party but activley against a Governor's program. Some Govs. have been afraid to leave the state for more than a day or two for this reason. NJ will weird you near about any way we can.

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"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

that story bout Jersey, wow. Is Sharpe James out of prison, yet? Hudson County have any elected officials left not under indictment? But that is why you (and CT as well, Squid could reel off a parade of former mayors of the Brass City in and out of prison) pay such high taxes.

You Joisy guys ar'nt even close. Miami-Dade County leads the nation in not only Medicare/Medicaid costs but in Medicare/Medicaid fraud by a staggering margin.

The politicians are not far behind. They just are smarter then the Joisy guys.

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

Brother Mia2ewr hit on part of our "cost of suffering" in New Jersey--the corruption cost. Another bigger part is the Home Rule thing which runs deep here--no regionalizing much of anything. There are a ton of independent municipalities in NJ, all fiercely independent so little centralizing/cost-sharing, on top of which are layered 566 school districts (more than NY, Pennsylvania and Maryland combined), each of which has taxing authority and maintains separate staff. Some school districts have no schools, sending all the tykes to other districts' schools (and of course paying higher out-of-district fees), but still maintaining a SD staff. Just nuts.

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"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED