One Reason Why Corzine Is Losing

Hmmm........ (0.00 / 0)

I'd say there are a lot of reasons while the Governor is down in the polls, but this probably isn't in my top ten.  College faculty makes up such a minimal part of the electorate I would make an educated guess that they aren't swaying an election one way or the other.  Additionally, even if Corzine did slight college faculty, are they really going to vote for Chris Chistie? Doubtful.  

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by: Matthew Jordan @ Tue Jul 07, 2009 at 13:16:38 PM UTC

Not a Winning Strategy (0.00 / 0)

So your strategy is to tick-off parts of your base that are small and assume that they'll vote for you regardless?  This is why Corzine is in trouble.  There are many different parts of his base (broadly defined) and the polls indicate dissatisfaction by many of them with the Governor.

I doubt many of my colleagues will vote for Christie, but many of them simply won't show up on election day.  For myself, I will vote for Christie (something I never thought a sane person would) if the Governor keeps insisting on this plan.

-pb

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by: princetonblue @ Tue Jul 07, 2009 at 19:19:09 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Does Christie (0.00 / 0)

have a plan for negotiating with the AFT?

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by: SmartyJones @ Wed Jul 08, 2009 at 12:16:59 PM UTC

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On Christie (0.00 / 0)

Christie is an idiot, and I sure hope he doesn't become Governor.   But this race is not about rationality.   It's about people being disappointed in the Governor's performance and how they are getting treated.  I may think Gov. Corzine's policies might be better, but if he's played games with me, I'm not going to be such a great supporter of his.

-pb

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by: princetonblue @ Wed Jul 08, 2009 at 15:50:52 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

All is Resolved (4.00 / 1)

I'm happy to report that the state came to its senses yesterday and offered AFT an equivalent agreement to the CWA one.  

It's still disappointing that the state went out of its way to jerk us around for a few months first.   You just don't treat people like that unless you have good reason (and the state didn't here).

-pb

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by: princetonblue @ Wed Jul 08, 2009 at 15:45:48 PM UTC

Answer: Property Taxes (0.00 / 0)

Corzine was told by voters upon election what the major issue was.   Property taxes.  There is nothing that can be linked to Corzine improving this situation. There was supposed to be a special session, that failed.  To me its not a shock that he is down in the polls.   It's like 'Doctor I told you I had a pain on my right side, after leaving your office I still have it!'

So Corzine 2009 will come down to we are better than Christie.  And he WILL pull it off - but it is needlessly close.

The state, led by Corzine, continues to think they can compartmentalize the taxes and that voters will not see property taxes as a State of NJ problem...to put the onus on mayors and towns when so many of a town's expenses are a result of state regulation, mandate or court enforced spending.

The cutting or threatened cutting of rebates has angered voters.   Also state aid to towns was cut, which sounds like an extra expense but is really a direct increase in property taxes.  

Sorry for the situation with your union.  As a Stockton grad I had many good AFT-member teachers.   In the end of the day though it is a negotiation, and I doubt the governors campaign people make those calls - I hope they don't -- The size of your union is i'm sure a factor - he saves more with the 3.7% cut given the number of people in CWA - basic labor economics.  May not be fair, but each union is negotiated seperately.

 2009 is a 'Thank God I have a Job' year.  This is probably not the best time to go to the political arena with complaints about contracts.   The private vs. public sector comparison is much better these days.   Unions will normally counter with - "we don't make the money in the good years," but this time is unique --  the private sector where the lion's share of the ungodly money was made - finance- has collapsed, and so its just the lower profit business in the private sector keeping people employed now.  In my own private sector job a 5% salary cut was mandated -- no negotiating, just done -- since January.   The NJ transit bus I take is getting emptier and emptier as the ranks of the unemployed swell.   I don't want to tell anyone not to protest but in my opinion not the best time.  

   

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by: CouncilmanBruceCarlson @ Wed Jul 08, 2009 at 16:11:33 PM UTC

Pay Cuts (3.00 / 1)

Thanks for your comments.   For AFT members, the problem was less about the pay cuts (we knew they were coming), but being treated disrespectfully and second class compared to other unions.   Gov. Corzine wants to be the "Education Governor", and to then go after college professors for the largest pay cuts seemed wrong to all of us.

I'm glad it has been settled.   It was a needless dispute.  

-pb

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by: princetonblue @ Wed Jul 08, 2009 at 16:16:55 PM UTC

[ Parent ]