Monetize like its 1999

IOKIYR (0.00 / 0)

We need to start a new tag here at Blue Jersey, one that has some cache over at other sites.

It's OK If You're Republican: IOKYR

It's for all the times that they are hypocrites.  Like when Lonegan calls Dems bad names for filing political ethics complaints.  Or some family values Councilman is caught cheating on his wife.  Or when Republican Congressman say the Democrats don't support the troops, then the same Congressman votes against improving veterans care.

Or, in this case, where they focus their entire 2007 campaign cycle on blasting the Governor's looks proposal to "monetize assets" just eight years after PASSING an asset monetization plan.

---

by: huntsu @ Sun Jul 29, 2007 at 16:13:28 PM UTC

Only One (0.00 / 0)

There's only one comment that uses IOKYAR (they added the "A" for "ARE") and it's from July 10.

http://www.bluejerse...

---

by: huntsu @ Sun Jul 29, 2007 at 16:17:27 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

i've added the tag (0.00 / 0)

and will make sure to include it when tagging future posts

---

by: Jason Springer @ Sun Jul 29, 2007 at 16:19:51 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

IOKIYAR (0.00 / 0)

That's how kosopedia lists it and how Atrios uses it.

---

by: Juan Melli @ Sun Jul 29, 2007 at 16:28:06 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

So it's true... (0.00 / 0)

we are all just Kos's playthings, responding like puppets on a string to his machinations!

:-)

---

by: huntsu @ Sun Jul 29, 2007 at 16:31:51 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

right on (0.00 / 0)

Like every other blogger, I receive my daily marching orders at 8:00am sharp Berkeley time.

---

by: Juan Melli @ Sun Jul 29, 2007 at 17:08:58 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

You genuinely believe (0.00 / 0)

monetization is a good idea then? Regardless of the Republican position in 1999, the financial situation of the state is orders of magnitude different today. The hypocracy is the definitely there, but using hindsight, it was a bad idea then and a worse one now.

"Where ever you go, there you are." - Buckaroo Bonzai

---

by: William Weber (WjcW) @ Sun Jul 29, 2007 at 17:31:03 PM UTC

i wasn't discussing the merits (0.00 / 0)

to be honest, i really would like to see details because i don't know who's rhetoric to believe here anymore.  you have some people screaming its the only way to save our state and others yelling back that its selling the whole thing away.  I'd like to see the facts before i decide.  I was more focused on the hypocricy with this post.

---

by: Jason Springer @ Sun Jul 29, 2007 at 17:37:40 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

and by hypocrisy (0.00 / 0)

i mean the fact that many of the republican members who are making their opposition to the proposal a central theme, if not the only theme of their campaign besides democrats are bad people, were part of the unanimous group of Republicans that voted in favor of the idea when they were in charge.

---

by: Jason Springer @ Sun Jul 29, 2007 at 17:47:16 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

monetization (4.00 / 1)

I don't know of any case where selling off public roads in the past has turned out to be a good idea. I'm very skeptical of any plan to do something similar, but Corzine is a pretty smart business guy, so I'm willing to wait and see the details of his plan before deciding. He may be coming up with something nobody has considered before, and given the fix we're in, I'm willing to hear him out before knocking it.

---

by: Juan Melli @ Sun Jul 29, 2007 at 17:55:07 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

The other side of the coin (0.00 / 0)

Instead of bashing the Republicans for hypocrisy, we should be asked why is a Democratic administration pushing for Republican policies.

---

by: 12mileseastofTrenton @ Sun Jul 29, 2007 at 18:07:49 PM UTC

Re: The other side of the coin (0.00 / 0)

It's not a Republican or Democratic policy issue. It's about whether it makes sense or not to fix the fiscal crisis. If Corzine proposes an Illinois or Indiana-type road lease, I plan to oppose it because I don't think it would be a good long-term solution. But we don't know what he wants to do yet.

---

by: Juan Melli @ Sun Jul 29, 2007 at 18:16:05 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Don't you think the fix is in? (0.00 / 0)

There isn't going to be any real debate on this issue.  The Corzine administration is going to the table with a plan and will present what seems like solid reasons why this is the only solution out of NJ's fiscal crisis.  The administration is taking its time putting the details of the plan out there so to maximize how good the PR campaign will be and to minimize the time for debate.  What we are going to witness is the Corzine's version of Bush selling the Iraq war. 

I also think you're being very kind when you suggest the possibility that Corzine "may be coming up with something nobody has considered before."  Corzine does back alot of good solid causes, but innovative solutions are not the trademark of his government so far nor what people have written about his time at GS.

-pb

---

by: princetonblue @ Mon Jul 30, 2007 at 02:15:28 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Re: Don't you think the fix is in? (0.00 / 0)

I think it's unlikely I will support whatever Corzine ultimately ends up proposing, but I'm willing to hear him out and give it a chance. I haven't heard anyone else even try to propose a reasonable way out of this mess.

---

by: Juan Melli @ Mon Jul 30, 2007 at 02:24:53 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

There's no magic solution (4.00 / 3)

I give Gov. Corzine credit for making these issues part of the political discussion.  It's why I was so enthusiastic about him when he ran for Governor.  It has disappointed me that he seems to be pursuing the "easy" solutions (Asset monetization is politically charged, but in the short term, there are few negative consequences.  It's in the long-term that the public will be hurt.  Just like with Whitman's bond issue).  I think it's pretty well understood what NJ has to do. 

1.  Raise some taxes a bit.  For example, gasoline taxes, taxes on those in the $500,000+ crowd, and commercial taxes.

2.  Freeze the size of state government.

3.  Reduce property tax rebates. 

4.  Get serious about freezing the growth of local government and the obligations they incur on the state government. 

5.  Raise the tolls on the GS parkway, Turnpike, bridges to a comparable level to what a private company would charge under monetization and provide for annual increases.

Of course, this will be painful and won't solve the problem overnight.  But it is a (reasonable) alternative that Gov. Corzine could lead with.

-pb

---

by: princetonblue @ Mon Jul 30, 2007 at 03:05:49 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

This is turning into a good discussion... (0.00 / 0)

I give the gov. credit for recognizing something must be done about the debt. And I might support the monetization if he could guarrantee the money would go to pay down debt and ONLY pay down debt. There have been far to many shell games played and borrowing rules creatively circumvented for me to support this kind of proposal without an iron-clad plan of what the money will be used for from now until the end of the lease/sale/etc.
My fear is that the road to hell is paved with good intentions and monetization money will find its way to other causes while our fearless leaders kick the can down the road in hopes of re-election.
 

"Where ever you go, there you are." - Buckaroo Bonzai

---

by: William Weber (WjcW) @ Mon Jul 30, 2007 at 03:53:03 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Republican issue (0.00 / 0)

Privatization is a right-wing policy perscription.  Democrats should not be supporting it in any shape or form.

---

by: 12mileseastofTrenton @ Mon Jul 30, 2007 at 23:07:06 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Asselta should apologize (0.00 / 0)

In the First District State Senate Race Asselta has been accusing Van Drew of selling out on this issue.

Now we find out that his own Party initiated the idea!

I wonder if Asselta voted for that plan in 1999? 

---

by: firstamend07 @ Sun Jul 29, 2007 at 22:41:14 PM UTC