The Popular Capitalist View

A key part of the Popular Capitalist program is to reduce the cost of living. A lower cost of providing the necessities puts the rudimentary task of paying the cost of sovereignty more easily within the reach of the political economies of regions with modest resources. This allows those political economies and thus most political economies to offer its citizens opportunities to reach beyond mere survival and build capital that will benefit their communities for years to come. Also, a lower cost of the living beyond survival makes those efforts at building capital more attainable.

These past few months have been rough in New Brunswick, New Jersey and the North East in general. First, there was the snow, possibly the most profuse in more than a century. Dr. David A. Robinson of Rutgers University [1] says it all:
“Unfortunately, snow records are not lengthy or complete at most locations around the state, but I am confident in stating that most locations established new monthly snowfall records for any winter month in at least the past 130 years.” [2]
Then there was the rain. The …

Marsha Shapiro and Louise Walpin of Middlesex County have been loving partners for over twenty years and have a civil union in the state of New Jersey. Together, they have raised four children, two of which have significant special needs—Scott, with Asperger’s, and Aaron, with severe mental and physical developmental disabilities. Healthcare costs, as one might expect, were tremendous. As Louise was searching for jobs, employer after employer told her: We do not provide health benefits to civil union couples. As health complications arose for Aaron, healthcare costs mounted. Marsha …

The Popular Capitalist View

The election of the next New Jersey Governor is fast upon us with only one real issue being addressed, that of property taxes and the public education system which it currently funds.  Each of the three major candidates – and by “major” I mean that they are on the ballot and on television – has taken up a predictable strategic position on this issue.

Last week marked the first Gubernatorial debate for New Jersey, pitting Republican candidate Chris Christie and Independent Chris Dagget against incumbent Democratic Governor Jon Corzine. Dave was one Johnson who took part in an on campus viewing of the debate at the Eagleton Institute on Rutgers’ Douglass Campus. For this article, Dave was asked a series of questions regarding his feelings before and after the debate: 1. What was your opinion of these candidates before the debate? 2. Who, in your estimation, won the debate? 3. How, if …

If you are from New Jersey, then you might understand my fascination with the dark. It never quite gets dark here. Since I was a kid, I have noticed that even past midnight the sky is strangely purple and the clouds glow orange. And then there are always buildings or trees that even if you look up to the stars, you can never really see much of anything.

As Of Yet Untitled
Corruption in New Jersey politics is not a new phenomenon. Rather, it is a part of everyday political life in New Jersey, the lard that keeps the densely packed population from grating against each other. The topic has even been touched upon in the Johnsonville Press in months past. Even so, never in my time in New Jersey have I seen the hailstorm that is Jersey politics reign down so openly and violently as it has in July, 2009. Rallies, races and arrests are converging on …

In My Image
West Virginia University 12/2/06: Mostly sober, red shirts discretely hidden under our hoodies, I felt this was the perfect disguise in the frigid night air; still we found ourselves surrounded by chants of “Fuck New Jersey!” Moments later, as we don our noble garbs in the befitting manner, these chants and profane remarks condemning the state of my birth and residency were aimed directly at us. What do these gas-pumping hicks know anyway? Tough loss that night, but if Townsend didn’t drop that pass in the Fourth, we …

New Brunswick Is 12th Municipality to Partner with Agencies on Program

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ – New Brunswick Mayor Jim Cahill today joined Department of Community Affairs (DCA) Commissioner Joseph Doria and New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (HMFA) Executive Director Marge Della Vecchia at Fulton Square, a new residential development at Remsen Avenue and Hickory Drive, to announce that New Brunswick is the newest member of the Live Where You Work Program. The city is the 12th municipality to partner with HMFA on the program.