Corruption is round-the-clock N.J. industry

The people of New Jersey pay the highest property taxes in the nation. The people of new Jersey pay the highest auto insurance rates in the nation. Comparatively, the people of New Jersey have the highest number of corrupt politicians in the nation.

Saying "I'm from New Jersey" has become embarrassing because of the political climate. Many elected officials hold multiple government jobs, belong to multiple pension systems, engage in lobbying and hold no-show jobs. They do everything except what they are paid to do, namely "represent the people of New Jersey."

The Democratic Party is out of control in our state. Recently, a former governor resigned after declaring that he was a gay American. Then we had an acting governor and now we have a governor who first threw millions of dollars around to become a U.S. senator. Then after only four years in the U.S. Senate, he again threw millions of dollars around to become governor. He continues to throw millions of dollars around, not to the people, but to a former girlfriend who is president of the Communications Workers of America Local 1034.

Democratic U.S. senators from New Jersey also have a big turnover. In 2001, a former Wall Street bond trader became a U.S. senator. In 2002, another U.S. senator left public office after being implicated in a bribery scandal. A swap was hurriedly arranged by having a U.S. senator come out of retirement to replace the one accused. Then, in 2005, the then-governor-elect named a U.S. Representative to succeed him.

It is good news that the U.S. Attorney's Office is going after elected state officials engaged in corruption especially those who put personal financial gain ahead of the interests of the people.

The Taj Mahal in Atlantic City has round-the-clock gambling. The Statehouse in Trenton has round-the-clock lobbying but little governing. The good people of New Jersey have round-the-clock property taxes and state taxes but we must wait until Nov. 6 before removing the shackles that bind us.

Michael Meehan

Edison