Jerseyans leave at alarming rate (health insurance, luxury, debt)

[mike0421]

NJ.com: Everything Jersey

A very good article in today's Star Ledger that chronicles people much like myself, who 'voted with their feet', not because they were really enthusiatic about it, or disliked NJ per se, but rather because high taxes gave them no alternative. "The population outflow is real, is approaching worrisome dimensions, and is exerting a small but increasingly negative impact on the New Jersey economy."

[njkate]

While the economists said they are certain the exodus is growing, they are less sure of why. Possible reasons include high housing costs and the state's generally high cost of living. Society in general also is increasingly mobile, they said.

They can't be serious with that comment!!! Most people leave because they can not afford to live here any longer

[ottomobeale]

>While the economists said they are certain the exodus is growing, they are less sure of why. Possible reasons include high housing costs and the state's generally high cost of living.<

LOL. wow it takes a think tank full of 250k a year economists to figure that one out!?!?

On the radio they mentioned a 3 billion dollar deficit even though the NJ economy is relatively healthy on top of high tax rates. I would love to see how much of the spending "disappears" into various back pockets.

I went to Cincinnati on business last week. There was a home for sale with a big "buy me for 109K" sign attached to the regular realtor sign. NOTHING special about this house. This was a 400K home in say Denville in Morris Co. It made me wanna cry cause it looks like Im a permanent renter yet I make well over the median income in the US.

That being said. I have a real job with health insurance.

employed uber alles

[Dolfan]

I heard something on the radio about 200,000 people leaving last year. It's not surprising. People are going to areas where the cost of living is lower.

[Ellwood]

I was born and have lived in NJ my entire life, but will be leaving in the spring. We're tired of the political corruption, congestion, high property tax and COL in NJ.
The state is billions of dollars in debt yet they continue to pay $2B a year for state medical coverage, >$40B for state pensions and borrow money so they can pay for them.
Only 20% of corporations in the US provide workers with a pension, yet NJ provides teachers who have 25+ years service free retiree medical benefits for their families.
The tax rebate this year was a joke. They raised our taxes, and "gave" us a tax rebate. The NJ government's answer to everything is raise the cigarette tax.

[JERSEY MAN]

Ellwood, The goverments answer to lower taxes, everyone buy 10 cartons of cigarettes and the tax mess will be over.

[griffit34]

my only comment is....... I'm one of the people who left and so far, best decision i could've made. I only went to PA, my next move will be further.

[Ellwood]

Originally Posted by JERSEY MAN

Ellwood, The goverments answer to lower taxes, everyone buy 10 cartons of cigarettes and the tax mess will be over.

The big joke is everyone I know who smokes haven't bought cigarettes in NJ in years. Other friends have quit, so when all the people stop smoking, whose going to pay their bills? They'll probably put a luxury tax on toilet paper.

[BobKovacs]

Originally Posted by Ellwood

The big joke is everyone I know who smokes haven't bought cigarettes in NJ in years. Other friends have quit, so when all the people stop smoking, whose going to pay their bills? They'll probably put a luxury tax on toilet paper.

But then people will just mail-order their "teepee" from the indian reservations just like the cigarettes. Get it? "teepee"? "TP"? Indian reservation? I just crack myself up sometimes............

Bob

[Ellwood]

Originally Posted by BobKovacs

But then people will just mail-order their "teepee" from the indian reservations just like the cigarettes. Get it? "teepee"? "TP"? Indian reservation? I just crack myself up sometimes............

Bob

Funny...some friends have gotten bills from State of NJ who ordered from the Indians...one for $2800!