This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

Citizens getting things done

A blog who want to change public policies

1. Did you know that the state of NJ is getting ready to spend 6 billion dollars of your money?

2. It is for higher education-(so far so good) but 214 million is for Princeton University-Princeton has an endowment ( money in the bank) of 17 billion dollars

3. Does this  make sense to you? Should we ask a few questions?

Find out what's happening in Freeholdwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

I GUARANTEE THAT WE CAN STOP THIS IF WE WANT TO? IT ONLY TAKES A FEW PEOPLE TO AFFECT POLICY AT THE STATE LEVEL. 

Let me know if you are interested.

Find out what's happening in Freeholdwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

CITIZENS!

I am going to start a blog with a difference.

I would like to discuss various public policy issues, which we will research together, and then change together.

I like yelling as much as the next man or women, but I am getting tired of yelling and nothing happens, or voting and nothing happens. Perhaps  we can do better.

I think we should pick some topics that are local or statewide. There are a lot of important topics out there that are local or statewide and my research indicates that a lot of local and statewide issues are decided by surprisingly few citizens.  This means-I hope- that a hardy band of warriors  ( this would be us) can have an effect on public policies.

I would like to have reasonable conversations online without too many statements implying  that  you or I are the “spawn of the devil.”  Of course, if you do have solid evidence of such matters, I would like to be warned.

I would also like to be able to voice views without more yelling than is absolutely necessary. If you or I say something that you or I think is wrong just kindly explain why you think that is so. Louder is not always more persuasive.

I think that we can succeed and have fun doing so. I also think there are a lot of people among us who know lots of stuff and they might be willing to help.  My bet is that there are people out there who have done some heavy lifting for the country ( e.g. veterans), people out there who know things we need to know (e.g. how to  properly educate children), and have knowledge that we can tap into (e.g. people who know how to run a small business). I believe that there are many citizens who have a good deal of common sense that can be brought to bear on current situations.  Perhaps we the people have a few ideas of our own. I suspect we do.

Be proud and confident.  All of us, merely by being citizens, come from a long line of happy trouble makers.

The country needs help-there is work to be done!

 

Sincerely,

Dr. Paladin (just a name I like)

Citizens-get ready to have some fun and do important things

 

Here are some ideas for us to talk about, research and then act  on.

I. A bond issue that would provide hundreds of millions of dollars for New Jersey  colleges and universities is coming up soon.  I am all for spending more money on our colleges and universities, but I think we have an obligation to our children and fellow citizens to insure that the money is well spent.

Here are some questions:

  1. A.      I THINK SEVERAL HUNDRED MILLION ARE GOING TO PRINCETON UNIVERSITY.

Does anyone know the endowment for Princeton University? I think it might be over ten billion dollars. Perhaps during hard times this is the time for Princeton to help out Rutgers University?

 

WE WANT TO KNOW WHY WE ARE GIVING MONEY TO SUCH A RICH UNIVERISTY-ESPECIALLY DURING TIMES WHEN MIDDLE CLASS FOLKS ARE HAVING A HARD TIME PAYING FOR THEIR CHILDREN’S EDUCATION.

 

BE NICE-ASK-PERHAPS WE DON’T HAVE ALL THE PERTINENT INFORMATION.

 

I just thought of this-universities have an office of public information –call and ask. Don’t be shy-no one knows who you are when you use the phone-if you are nervous just disguise your voice or wear a fake beard.

 

Or look at an article that appeared in some NJ papers and call the writer. This might get  the writer to do another article on the topic. They might even write about you/us. Good publicity for Patch-you /the idea of citizen involvement. The reporter will be sure to keep in touch after that. 

 

Call 101.5 and see if they might want to discuss this topic.  Try it. Become the star you thought you would be during your last year in high school.

 

NJTV  They will be interested and they have recently brought on board two top flight reporters –Michael Aron and Mike Schneider. Also try to get in touch with the producer of the evening news Bob Males.

 

Some for the money will be going to state colleges/universities. Would someone be interested in seeing if the President of the schools or the Administrators are going to be using this money to pay themselves a raise-a bonus etc.

 

THIS IS ONE OF THE FEW TIMES WHEN YOU MIGHT GET A REPLY BECAUSE THEY NEED US!

II. When there was a tornado/fat cell/supercell or whatever, that came through and tore up Freehold, NJ pretty good, there was a lack of JCP&L company vehicles /equipment/trained folks and such, and so all this good stuff had to be brought in from elsewhere to help out. People did eventually arrive  and worked extremely hard to make things better. This is good.

But might not this be even better if  the energy company already had workers who have uniforms,  training, and  reasonable pay and benefits so they stay around for the next bad situation that occurs, who were already working full time for the company and thus were really, really, really ,ready to go.

 

The reason I think we might get something done here is that we the people have a bit of a grip on JCP&L. JCP&L  is regulated by the state of NJ. This means that they have to appear before someone, somewhere, and be regulated by the state regulators.

 

JCP&L just might be willing to pony up and hire some permanent workers who are trained, reasonably well paid, and supplied with the right equipment, to make things right when the next emergency comes through, because they know that we know, that they need our permission to keep doing business in New Jersey.  We need someone to get in touch with the regulators and JCP&L with our idea and find out what we should do next. If there is someone out there who knows something pertaining to this matter let us know. You could post the address/phone number/email address so others can join in.

 

I believe that many of the regulators are lonely because no one knows about them and they rarely get visitors.  I also believe that the company might well choose to get this out of the way before the next rate hearing/re-authorization or whatever? ( Which is when? We need someone to find out when).

 

III.  I was thinking, is there a way that would guarantee more jobs and  better jobs for Americans ? As I sat in my small room, I said –yes, there is way to guarantee more jobs, and make more jobs into  better jobs.

VOTE FOR THE FIRST PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE WHO SAYS ” ON THE DAY I AM INNNAUGURATED I WILL ISSUE AN EXECUTIVE ORDER  THAT CREATES A FIVE YEAR MORITORIUM ON IMMIGRATION.”

An executive order is a rule that has the force of law but can be issued by the President without the approval of congress. Unless someone rescinded the law of supply and demand while we slept, this is certain to create more jobs, and make many jobs into much better jobs.

 

This should be temporary because I like immigrants and think they are good for the country. But I don’t see a lot of relief coming from the government . I think we might be on our own for a while. Perhaps we can do something to help our fellow citizens who need work and  better paying jobs.

 

While there are many interesting theories, this is the only certain method I have been able to think of that will  guarantee  more jobs and better jobs for all Americans. Everything else is a theory with lively partisans, but still just a theory.

 

Does this sound OK to you? Some people I have spoken to seem to think it is a fine idea and some seemed alarmed that I even mentioned it.  Before I risk the welfare of all that I hold dear let me know what you think.

 

I THINK THAT WE BAND OF GOOD CITIZENS CAN MAKE THIS INTO THE ISSUE DURING THE REST OF THIS CAMPAIGN FOR THE PRESIDENCY AND VARIOUS OTHER OFFICES. We can call, write and generally annoy the folks who are running for office into making a decision. To my mind our elections are too much like a wedding: Do you want this one or not? I’d like to think we know something too, many of us  have made some pretty important sacrifices for this country, and we should be allowed to enter the fray with some specific ideas of our own. And no-an occasional initiative or referendum are NOT enough. So there.

 

IV.  LETS THROW EACH OTHER OVERBOARD seems to be a popular method of dealing with our current  budgetary problems.

In recent years I have noticed a number of situations where, to meet current budgetary needs, a public institution lays off some workers-instead of getting everyone to take a little less, or to not take a raise that is in their contract. Sometimes a choice was offered to the workers, but I am hoping that now that some time has passed, they might want to reconsider.

 

Could we take another look at the situation?  One case I heard of involved teachers.   To my mind TO LAY OFF YOUNG TEACHERS IS LIKE EATING THE SEED CORN OF THE NATION.

 

Can we get these situations re-opened?  I think some of the folks involved may have had time to think things over.  We will have some leverage because we will represent a of voters-and we could shine an  intense light on those who refuse to take a small cut in order to help their fellow human beings. We need someone to call or write or do whatever it takes to find out some information and help our teachers/police etc.  get back to work.

 

IT IS TIME TO ACT LIKE citizens/owners.  A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE MADE GREAT SACRIFICES TO ENSURE THAT THIS COUNTRY IS RUN IN A DEMOCRATIC AND HUMANE MANNER. THE LEAST WE CAN DO- SO THAT WE ARE DERSERVING OF THE SACRIFCES MADE BY OTHERS-IS TO GET INVOLVED ABOUT CURRENT ISSUES.

 

I would love to hear from you. Don’t be shy about telling me what you think. I can take it. Relatives have worked me over for years. If you want to voice your opinion of what we should do, or who you should get in contact with, or just be a secret lurker-it’s all good. Although helping is known to be better.

 

Signed:  A citizen who plans to act like an owner from here on in.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?