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the first story i heard driving home today was this:
http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2009/07/hometown_corruption.html
the summary: 40+ public officials in New Jersey - including mayors, state assembly men AND 5 rabbis - were arrested on money laundering/bribery charges today. aside from the sheer number of people involved, the case also sports the following absurdities:
-There were so many arrests the police needed two buses to transport everyone to the FBI office.
-It took over an hour for the prosecutor to list all of the charges brought against every individual.
-One of the mayors took office less than a month ago - in an election so close it was decided by 161 votes.
seriously: holy fucking shit.
i mention this only because about halfway through the NPR broadcast - when they started talking about busloads of arrested officials - i had to pull over because i lost it and started laughing hysterically. i shouldn't, of course, but this went from 'tragic failure of US government system' to 'high comedy' really fast.
then again i don't live in New Jersey, so it doesn't really affect me. one of my college roommates *does*, but i also hated her, so i guess this is a win-win for me?
...i am a horrible person. :)
http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2009/07/hometown_corruption.html
the summary: 40+ public officials in New Jersey - including mayors, state assembly men AND 5 rabbis - were arrested on money laundering/bribery charges today. aside from the sheer number of people involved, the case also sports the following absurdities:
-There were so many arrests the police needed two buses to transport everyone to the FBI office.
-It took over an hour for the prosecutor to list all of the charges brought against every individual.
-One of the mayors took office less than a month ago - in an election so close it was decided by 161 votes.
seriously: holy fucking shit.
i mention this only because about halfway through the NPR broadcast - when they started talking about busloads of arrested officials - i had to pull over because i lost it and started laughing hysterically. i shouldn't, of course, but this went from 'tragic failure of US government system' to 'high comedy' really fast.
then again i don't live in New Jersey, so it doesn't really affect me. one of my college roommates *does*, but i also hated her, so i guess this is a win-win for me?
...i am a horrible person. :)
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no subject
Date: 2009-07-24 06:47 am (UTC)From:(Then again, my South-Jersey-bred self also takes this as an opportunity to dismiss those crazy North Jerseyans. We Sojo natives just have to worry about cow tipping and biker gangs.)
no subject
Date: 2009-07-25 03:02 am (UTC)From:my experience with NJ is relegated to the occasional rest stop when driving somewhere else. that, and a truly insufferable roommate i had during my last semester of college, but that probably isn't New Jersey's fault.