Accountable ?

During the 2012 Presidential election The Democratic Party raised $1072 Million dollars and spent $985.7 Million. The Republicans spent $992.0 Million and raised $992.0 Million The site on the provided link site breaks down money and where it came from http://elections.nytimes.com/2012/campaign-finance  As election costs climb we have already reached a tipping point.  Many feel our government is for sale. In NJ it may be truer than legally and ethically allowed.

The numbers show that not just anyone can become an elected official as local races are being impacted by money. External special interest money in NJ climbed to record highs last year spending ..."a record $37.8 million to influence New Jersey's races and ballot initiatives — more than twice the $14.9 million special-interest groups spent four years ago, figures released show."  According to article in USA Today http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/10/31/new-jersey-election-record-outside-spending-chris-christie/3323955/

One has to ask where the election boundaries are drawn? Each state is to have its own authority but does not remain free from the influence of outside money. Who is really represented on the highest levels of state government? After years of dominance families in NJ are dominated by powerful families merely handing down offices like family heirlooms.  One does not have to shake the political family tree that hard to find former political office holders.  Most Christie appointees have been lifelong friends or worked with him before. One may wonder where is the accountability in NJ when they all share the same secrets.

This is a problem when full disclosure is demanded by law but only surfaces we some brave soul reveals it in an article or expose' which is forced into obscurity.  This obscurity is being combated by the internet and voters can see for themselves who is who and who knows who. Are we a society that has lapsed into the name game, money game, and the game of covering each other’s secrets?

For so long the two party system has had us all picking a side. We have been divided into red and blue while the American people get the purple whelps from the mismanagement, and lack of accountability concerning tax dollars, bonds, appropriations, and foreign aid.  We have our own issues as we see in social media truths not covered in the main media markets.  Yellow journalism displays the images driven by the money that has purchased them. The terms bailout and subsidies are not what they used to be, as recently they just mean taxpayer dollars given to those who invested the most in campaigns.

One has to wonder how in NJ a second round of Sandy money reached our shores without proper accountability of the first. One has to wonder how it is legal to underfund a pension system. It is also fascinating that there is not one single effort by the NJ legislation to make it law that pensions be properly funded. This past week it took ZERO debate to push the Urban Hope Act past  NJ Senate.  Maybe that is because the public was not allowed to voice its concerns. There is no law properly funding public schools to date.  However, there is legislation to ensure charter schools take their money right off the top of public school funding.  There is no law to make them return funds for the students they return back to public schools.

This is my first blog.  I am sure there will be critics, naysayers and grammatical critics. It matters little.  What matters most is that WE have a voice. As moves are being made to control the internet we need to be aware that big money and those used to having it will not just surrender their control. Our calls for accountability are not being heard. In NJ Christie runs things and he does not mind telling voters that he will do whatever he pleases.... when he pleases.  

The last time I checked that was bullying. According to Diane D’Amico Education Writer... http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/breaking/school-districts-say-state-s-anti-bullying-law-costs-at/article_8474d72c-6989-11e1-b18d-0019bb2963f4.html

"More than 200 school districts in the state are spending more than $2 million this year to implement the state’s new anti-bullying law, according to survey results released Thursday by the New Jersey School Boards Association.

That’s twice what the state Legislature and Gov. Chris Christie agreed Wednesday to put into a state Bullying Prevention Fund, and raises questions about whether, even with the new money, the law might still be considered unconstitutional under the State Mandate/State Pay provision."

I guess when you are big enough you can take people's money and spend it right in front of them and have the audacity to get angry when they complain. You can also get away with making them spend their money on you.  The NJ Legislators all pounced when they smelled blood during Bridge-gate, but then let Christie spend $6 million of our tax dollars to defend himself.  One day all bullies get theirs. It is a shame that those WE pay and entrust to stop them are not.