To the Editor:
When Gov. Christie said he was looking into, but wasn’t quite sure about, raising tolls on our tunnels and bridges we all knew we were getting a toll hike. It was a “necessary burden,” so said the chairman and his commissioners. Yes, they had real genuine concerns over the amount and ability of commuters to pay for these increases. But so be it. It had to be done.
So they marched into the boardroom with all their professed genuine concerns. They proceeded to vote unanimously to stick it to the masses, to the people who pay their salaries, once again. Undaunted, they returned to their perches and their sizable salaries and declared a job well done. But the masses don’t like it. They know when they’re getting snookered again.
Gov. Christie wanted an audit of Port Authority’s finances before approving the increase. In fact, he demanded it. The commissioners agreed. They will absolutely closely review and re-evaluate all of Port Authority’s capital projects, including compensation and benefits. Yes, sir, no problem.
Then I thought, “Gov. Christie is a tough guy.” Why doesn’t he demand that the top brass and their commissioners freeze their salaries in solidarity with the working stiffs who have to dig deep into pockets for this “necessary burden”? At least until 2015 when we will again have to dig even deeper for another such burden.
I read a quote that seems quite apropos: “Democracy has proved only that the best way to gain power over people is to assure the people that they are ruling themselves. Once they believe that, they make wonderfully submissive slaves.”
LORRAINE COLLINS