The "Airline-zation of the State of New Jersey"

The State of New Jersey is more and more everyday looking like the airline industry.

Why do I say this?

The airline industry has been run by its vocal employees who historically speaking, have not resisted the chance of striking to get what they want. Given their disregard for the welfare of the industry and the fact airline managements don't stay at an airline for more than a couple of years, airline unions have always received what they have wanted in contract negotiations. In watching the NJ state unions on Monday standing in front of capitol building in Trenton, I am reminded of airline unions sitting down on the tarmac at airports during their negotiations. Airlines are unable to withstand even an hour or two of downtime due to the extreme high daily costs of running their busineseses (jet fuel, airline leases,not to mention labor etc.) so whenever the airline unions threatened, airline management's gave in. No airline CEO wanted to be a captain of a sinking ship that he was only going to be in charge of for a couple of years. Initially the unions enjoyed always "winning" but eventually their greed and short-term sighteness drove the airlines into bankruptcy when the airlines could give no more.

Unfortunately, when I see Governor Corzine, who is supposed to be fighting for the NJ taxpayer, participating at state union rallies (his "ex" girlfriend runs the largest state union), I'm more than reminded of the potential dire reprecussions for the state in the long-term. Governor Corzine saying "he'll fight for fair union contracts" is like Yankees owner George Steinbrenner saying he'll fight for Derrick Jeter's contract. It would be so ridiculous if the consequences weren't so potentially fatal. If Trenton keeps this up, next up would be even higher taxes until the taxpayer can't pay anymore and then that leads to recessions, debt downgrades and bond defaults eventually culminating in bankruptcy. Municipal bankruptcies aren't unheard of (Orange County, CA in the 1995 has half the population of all of NJ) and are certianly feasible for this state which two Rutgers University economics professors reported "is in the worst financial shape since the Great Depression".

By the way, over a dozen school districts closed down because those teachers took off on Monday to go to Trenton and protest. Striking is illegal for state employees, anyone going to criticise them for that? Be forewarned New Jersey... the poticians in Trenton are writing the state's demise.