In A Dream, I Talked With Chris Christie On The Picket LIne

I had a dream last night that I had a conversation with Governor Christie as I joined a demonstration in Trenton,N.J. for collective bargaining.I wasn't angry in the dream and listened to Christie talk about the burden of taxation and the benefits of public workers,government regulations,public corruption,private schools,restricting abortion,the job killing EPA,freeze on affordable housing,suspending the public advocate and cutting aid to hospitals,higher education and transit systems.

I told him I agreed with his assessment of the tax burden on the families(71%) who fall below the $50,000 level in his state.These angry taxpayers can't pay higher taxes because they can't afford the expense due to their level of income.I put my arm around him and said we agree on this issue.Income levels have been the same for thirty years when one accounts for inflation. I told him I've been losing money for the past ten years on my privileged teacher bargained contract(1.9% raise while inflation was listed at 3.2%).We just don't have the revenue anymore to meet expenses the way our fathers and mothers did(higher tax rates for corporations and high income earners).I said my progressive group and the Tea Party members had a lot in common.Both of us can't continue holding up the revenue end on this train ride to freedom.I said "God bless America..how can we solve this problem" and Christie smiled because he thought he won me over to the pragmatic conservative viewpoint.I smiled back and said"that 71% needs the other 29% to help out and produce more revenue for the children so they can live the American dream and continue the great tradition of our values.He started to look a little confused by this statement.I stated again that we need the money from the folks who got it..the capital gains people who pay less than us in taxes as a percentage.Christie said they earned that money and they should have the right to spent it as they wish.I said that every worker earns their money but we give it back at a greater rate than the capital gains folks who have more and isn't it better for our economy if the lower income citizens have more money to spend(lower income level citizens spend more as a ratio than higher earners) because it stimulates the markets and creates jobs.He said rich people create jobs from lower taxes.I stated that under George Bush(decreased tax rates) job creation was the lowest since the great depression and the rich sit on their money and collect dividends from their investments.

Anyway,I know the Tea party members like social security and medicare just like me.Thank God we have a little security in old age.I feel very luck to have a pension coming and social security.My union in N.Y. have invested my and school district money wisely.I wish more people had protected pensions (strength in numbers)and higher social security payments.The vast majority of us worked very hard throughout our lives and really need assistance to continue a modest lifestyle with our families and grandchildren if we are blessed.I hope Governor Christie will join us(Tea party and Progressives) and try to convince his buddies that it's healthy for our country(I know they are patriots) when everyone shares in the revenue burdens created by our dark times.Let him return to the valleys of downtown Manhattan(issue transaction tax to raise $250 billion/year) and sing a new song for freedom.