By Paul Aronsohn

Enough is plenty.

The destructive policies.  The divisive rhetoric.  The condone for views and lives non uniform with his own.   Taken together, Chris Christie'south brand of slash and burn politics is taking its price on our land, and information technology's time to put an cease to it.

He has attacked teachers and showtime responders.  He has attacked ordinary citizens, who had the temerity to question their Governor.  He has attacked women legislators, calling them "jerks" and "liars" and violently suggested that journalists "take the bat" to one woman who represents a Bergen County district.   And now he is attacking his bourgeois critics, calling them "the crazies."

He stuck it to seniors, cutting their "senior freeze" rebates after promising them property tax relief.  He stuck it to low income workers, cutting their earned income tax credit after promising not to raise taxes.  He stuck information technology to constabulary enforcement officers and firefighters, cutting their pensions after promising to protect what he chosen a "sacred trust."

During 1 of the worst snow storms in our land'south history, he abandoned u.s.a. for warmer weather and and so tried to justify it.  During one of the most challenging times in public education, he bungled a $400 million federal grant and then blamed others for it.  During one of the worst budget crises in our state'due south history, he took personal trips in the land helicopter and then refused to repent for it.

In his quest for revenge, he has gone later those who he believes to have wronged him, including New Jersey Network news, legislators from both parties and a Rutgers professor who headed the country'south redistricting effort.  In his quest for the presidency, he has cut funding for women's health initiatives, questioned climatic change science, and launched an assault on the very union workers who have congenital our great state.

His dislike of those who disagree with him is obvious.  His disdain for those who claiming him is notorious.  He yells.  He blames.  He never admits fault.  He never takes responsibility.  The buck never seems to end at his desk-bound.

Suffice it to say, the example against Chris Christie is articulate and compelling.  And suffice it to say, we deserve improve.

  • We deserve a Governor who treats us with respect.
  • We deserve a Governor who understands that public service is about serving the public – that in a republic, the people – not the regime – reign supreme.
  • We deserve a Governor who understands that our state constitution – like our national one – begins with the all-powerful, uniquely American phrase "Nosotros the people" and that nowhere in either document does it say "Me the Governor."

Notwithstanding, with the next gubernatorial election over two years away, our ability to prepare the current state of affairs is limited.  Nosotros can speak upwardly.  We can ask more than of our other elected officials.  Just most chiefly, we tin can – and we must – elect candidates who accept the backbone and moral compass to identify a necessary check on Christie's reckless approach to governing.

To this end, we must take this November's elections seriously.  Although Christie will non himself be on the ballot, we need to use our votes to put in role elected officials, who are willing to fight the good fight against a Governor who doesn't seem to get it and who too often doesn't seem to care much nearly it.

At every level – municipal, county and state — we demand to elect candidates who will balance budgets without berating people and reform government without vilifying the very people who teach our children and patrol our streets.  Republicans.  Democrats.  Independents.  Whatever.  We demand to elect candidates who genuinely believe in skilful, representative government and who are willing and able to stand up to a Governor who seemingly doesn't.

Simply stated, nosotros need to elect people who represent the very best of New Jersey'southward political tradition of civility, bipartisanship and moderation.

Again, Chris Christie must be stopped.  He should not be allowed to continue his split and conquer arroyo to governing.  He should not be allowed to pit neighbour against neighbor, parent against teacher, citizen against kickoff responder.  He should not exist immune to become unchecked.

Plenty is plenty.  New Bailiwick of jersey deserves meliorate.

Paul Aronsohn is a Councilman in Ridgewood

New Jersey Deserves Better

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