And Connecticut Makes Four

The little state of Connecticut has become the fourth state to legalize gay marriage! (Massachusetts, Vermont and Iowa are the other three). Come on New Jersey! What's the holdup?

Dick Continues His Assaults

Dick continues his bashing of President Obama. Does the man have nothing positive to say? Miserable, old man!

Another Good Job By Obama

I give President Obama an A+ for his endeavors at the Summit of the Americas. Isn't it time we learn to listen and work with our neighbors instead of trying to dictate to them how things are going to be?

To Union Or Not To Union?

I am Pro-Union, but not a Union Fanatic! I am also a State of NJ employee, and union member State employee! I DO NOT BELIEVE THE STATE OF NJ BUDGET SHOULD BE BALANCED ON THE BACKS OF ITS WORKERS! My job is to serve the public, a particularly vulnerable part of our citizenship. I believe that MOST state employees work hard to support and serve the people of NJ. We keep the disabled, the mentally ill, children, and the general public safe. I also believe that most of the public hasn't a clue what NJ State employees do to make their lives better.

This is, in my opinion, what the Union should be publicizing on a daily basis. The Union should be informing the public on a routine basis of what it is NJ State employees are doing for the people. However, the Union usually reacts to situations rather than being proactive. Last week, the Union asked its members to participate in a lunchtime picket over forced furloughs and wage increase give-backs. Does this work or does this make the public even angrier at State employees? I'm not sure, but the following is one response from one reader of The Press of Atlantic City to the lunchtime protests that occurred last week:

How arrogant for state workers to fight furloughs
Published: Monday, April 13, 2009

" Regarding the mass demonstrations last week at our state colleges by workers protesting furloughs:
I'm blown away by the arrogance of these folks. These are all state employees who believe they are exempt from any type of personnel cuts when the state is suffering a sharp revenue decline. Why should the state act any differently from a private business?
Most of these folks make the same or more than private business employees and should have to undergo the same as any other business. With the governor finally doing his job by cutting expenditures and standing up to the demands of the state's employees, we taxpayers will finally slow our rate of increase in our property taxes. New Jersey has the highest property taxes in the nation due to the demands of these employees, and it has to stop now.
DENNIS MAHON"

Unfortunately, when the Union reacts this is the image that is portrayed.
Northfield

TIme In NYC

Spent a few days in New York City last week. A few wet, cool days! I gotta say NYC is still a great place to be even in the wet and cool! Picture here is from Soho, but not "Soho in the rain." Fortunately we did have some good days as well.

The Obama Success In London

Well it looks like President and Mrs. Obama were successes in London this week at the G20 Summit. President Obama was declared, "Obama was the star of the meeting," and Michelle Obama "dubbed "Mighty Michelle" and the "new Jacqueline Kennedy" by British media."

It's great to see the American President received so well in a foreign country after 8 years of being embarrassed by Presidential trips to other countries. President Obama was not dominate the summit, but in my opinion, showed what true diplomacy and cooperation is all about. He did not dictate what the US wanted, but rather worked with the leaders of the other 20 nations to accomplish his goals.

Maybe this is just a small sign of things to come. There is strength in listening and thinking, not just boastful gloating and demanding.