As luck would have it...

March 2007

“Everything happens in its own time,” and “luck happens when preparation meets opportunity,” are two gems of wisdom that have stayed with me, courtesy of one Franny “Hurricane” Klein, deceased mother of the publisher of this fine publication. No doubt, you’ve heard similar lifeisms from people who are important to you throughout your life.

This column will primarily focus on the first one because, quite frankly, it’s hard to argue against the notion. And, as luck would have it, Atlantic County just got a newly elected political leader who couldn’t have come at a more critical time in the history of this area. Unless you’ve been sleeping for the past ten years, you missed the unprecedented growth being experienced by Atlantic County, home to New Jersey’s gem, Atlantic City. In the political arena, the area is officially known as District 2. Growth isn’t the only challenge; the state itself has become dysfunctional as dug-in politicians have brought it to the brink of financial ruin. If the state does not cut its spending it will have to raise more money somewhere, and that somewhere is ultimately only one source... “We The People!”

No matter how you slice it folks, we are the ones who are paying the freight for the ineptness of our legislative body, and the time is right for it to change. It must change.

Everything happens in its own time...

Don’t believe it?

Why didn’t the USSR fall before 1991? Answer? Time wasn’t ready.

Why couldn’t man have walked on the moon before 1969?

Answer? It wasn’t time.

Look back over the history of mankind and you’ll see a steady pattern of development, almost as if scripted, and not before a previous development would set the stage for the next one. Everything happens in its own time. Case in point, if Starbuck’s had attempted to create the “buzz” it has today, back in say, the fifties, sixties, or seventies, it would have never perked. America was simply not ready for such a model. It would have been, as often is the case, ahead of its time. Which means if you have enough money to hang in there, eventually you’ll be right on time.

Everything happens in its own time...

That applies to politics as well.

Here in New Jersey, the circumstances could not be more dire. The state went from being one of the best states in which to live, in the union, to one of the worst, in just twenty years. Republicans and Democrats are both to blame equally, there’s no escaping that. And, just when you thought it was lights out, the party is over, time to look for another state to live, along comes a miracle in newly elected senator from Atlantic County, Sonny McCullough, the current mayor of one of the fastest growing communities in New Jersey, Egg Harbor Township, and whose family’s roots go back to the beginning of Atlantic City. A miracle? That’s a lot of weight to put on one new senator’s shoulders.

The future of the state riding with Sonny?

Everything happens in its own time...

Sonny McCullough is just like me and you. Democrat or Republican, in that he’s tired of government getting bigger and bigger at the expense of the taxpayers. He’s tired of property taxes going through the roof while the state squanders the precious tax revenue it does collect. He’s tired of the state creating laws and rules which only serve to create more layers of government, meaning more preferred hires and employees, and less service to the people.

He’s tired of the state he loves raising taxes every year on its citizens, simply to balance a budget that grows by leaps and bounds every year. He’s tired of it and he intends on holding up the mirror to his fellow legislators and setting a new tone in Trenton.

A tone which calls for common sense, fiscal responsibility, practical legislation and leadership which puts this state back on the right course for future generations. The “miracle” part? If anyone can do it...Sonny can.

Everything happens in its own time...

I believe that the current state of New Jersey almost had to get where it is, so the people would once and for all, be so angry that they would demand the kinds of common sense reforms and changes which would result in the state correcting its course. What family in this state increases its debt load beyond their ability to pay?

Sadly, it does happen. But most families know how far they can stretch and most obviously don’t go beyond that point as evidenced by the percentages of bankruptcies compared to the populace. Sadly, the state doesn’t really care about you or me, even though you will occasionally hear an out-cry from a legislator or two. A decent sound bite that recognizes the problems but no action to actually fix them. They don’t care, because to them, it’s not their money and they don’t have to face those they are getting the money from collectively.

Personally, I believe every elected legislator, right down to the mayors of the smallest towns, should be required to give a state of the (fill in the area) report. Do you think any damn one of them took a step back to imagine the hardship their irresponsible actions would have on a lot of families in this state when they raised taxes in the past, misused tobacco settlement money, illegal pension borrowing (OK’d by our overseerer of “The People’s” laws, the State Supreme Court, “don’t do it again,” they replied!). Thanks a lot folks! Do you really believe they are concerned?

Of course not. You see, to most elected officials, the citizens are viewed similar to that from high atop a skyscraper looking down on the people walking in the street who resemble moving dots. No Identity. No real person, even though it is.

Just a bunch of dots moving. In the past every single generation of this great country has tried their best to create a better life and future for their children and their children’s children. This is the only one in the history of the United States which realistically could seriously bestow a very grim future upon generations of children to come. All because they refuse to simply do the right thing.

Can you believe it? All they would have to do to put this state back on the right course is cut spending while creating tax breaks for businesses wanting to relocate to the state. Do that, and the deficits will disappear and the future will start to look brighter.

Everything happens in its own time...

Sonny, represents a real leader, who truly, and the key word here is truly, cares about his responsibility to “We the people.” Those who know him know of that to which I speak. As he goes to work in Trenton, those who don’t, will come to know it too.

Dan Klein is publisher of the South Jersey Insider Magazine, as well as host of the weekly radio show by the same name, heard Saturdays from 1PM to 4PM on LifeRadio 1020 AM - WIBG.