The hell with any grandchildren......

General frustration with taxes and government are understandable, but the amenities, opportunities, and quality of life tend to follow the money. The higher incomes, the more the infrastructure will cost as the government takes their "fair" share. Having been to all of the lower 48 (work), there are some beautiful places out there....but they don't have what we have in the way of convenience, choice, quality. Restaurants, museums, sporting events, theater, airports.....the mix here rivals anywhere. From airports within 2 hours drive you can fly non-stop almost anywhere in the world: Hong Kong, Singapore, Dubai, Rio, and all of Europe.

Taxes aren't the only reason to move someplace. Nothing is tax free (in the US), so what's the quality of life worth? A lot it seems.

lolol!

Frank, please stop complaining about those who complain. You must really have lived in one of the holes in Philadelphia. I'm sorry it was such a bad experience for you but your in NJ; you can move on now.

You go Frank! I'm with you. You can complain all you want. But the fact is YOU still live here! High taxes, low pay rate, bad economy and all! It's home and it's a great place to be!

Living in Ocean County is nice - the school my kids go to is excellent, we live 12 miles from the beach, and there is a huge diversity of nearby things to do from going horseback riding on a farm to losing your mortgage payment in Atlantic City. That being said, years ago a close friend moved out of NJ because he could not afford to raise a family here. Off he went to Ohio and when I first went out to visit him I thought, "Why the heck would anyone move to Ohio?" Boy, was I wrong - the area is beautiful, he has a large 3 bedroom house for under $190k, much lower taxes, and the schools are good. I would have a hard time living away from the ocean but sometimes the grass is greener.

If the complainers are allowed to complain, then I am intitled to camplain about the complainers:) heh heh.. Sorry to tell ya Paula, Philly is a rats hole.. thru and thru. I put almost 50 years there I know what Im talking about..

oh and Paula. I did not mention Philly, did I?? YOU did.

Frank, I mentioned Philadelphia because, for you, it always comes back to the city. It's the one constant you have no positive comments for; I just mentioned 12 hours earlier than you did. I too lived in Phila for 1/2 my life and moved to NJ (not to get out of Philadelphia but to get away from row homes). I had alot of positive feelings about my new township 23 years ago but things have changed considerably and many residents' homes have been impacted by choices made for the "improvement' of the town. But little input or compromise was made to the residents in the affected areas; and as with having experience in living in Philly, I and my neighbors have been impacted by some decisions made. If I have your last name correct, you have lived here not quite 3 years. And you live in a closed development not near major shopping or close to rt 130. If a decision was made to say, put a stores right next to your home and you would have to lose some property or the property values would lower, I wonder if you would have the same positive thoughts for all plans if they directly affected you. I chose NJ originally but now live here because it is required by my employer. It is no longer a choice. I'd like to move back to pa to bucks co. Maybe when you're here long enough and the choices made affect you directly and there is no collaboration with you as a homeowner or resident, you may think differently.

On a different subject, I hope you saw the change.org post for naming Beaver stadium, Paterno field at beaver stadium. Your facebook says Penn State; at least that's one thing we have in common (hard to believe, huh?). And Abington campus was where I spent my first two years.

Amen to that,New Jersey has a lot of faults,but live in another state and New Jersey looks Pretty Good.I know more people that came back then stayed in other states,before they left they said turn off the lights its over for Jersey,when they came back they saw the lights even brighter.

#3 in education, according to what measurement? Test scores?

Test scores that are inflated to make teachers (some) look like they are doing a good job?

We are not that advanced. 36th in the Nation and sinking. If we could get dismiss the teachers who show up for a paycheck at the same time keep the ones who are passionate, caring and dedicated we'd be better off.
http://www.courierpostonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012301250025

Schu: From the article you reference:

The study does not assess the overall state of teaching and learning. That’s an area where, on average, New Jersey is among the highest-performing states — despite being home to low-performing schools, particularly in its most impoverished cities like Camden. Florida, a state where standardized test scores are far short of New Jersey’s, received the highest mark this year — and it got just a “B.”
__________________________________________________________________

Bob E: No matter how you cut it, NJ ranks #3 in test scores. Still a lot of work to do especially in inner cities where poverty and socio economic conditions certainly have a lot to do with lower student performance.

So if everyone likes to point at NJ's test scores, where we apparently rank #3 in the country, as an indicator of how great our schools and our teachers are, then why does the NJEA oppose using test scores as a factor for evaluating teachers' performance?

Either test scores show how well the teachers are doing, or they don't. The NJEA can't have it both ways!

Fred, we get it. Not every town or city in NJ is Utopia. John, the reason the NJEA opposes it is because the tests being used to put NJ at #3 are usually the NAEP tests, which are deemed the "Nation's Report Card". It's a test given to all states and populations samples of students across the country. NJ scores top 5 in almost every subject at almost every grade level tested. It's the closest test to an "apples to apples" comparison. NJ would most likely use the NJ ASK and GEPA test scores. There isn't a clear cut way to use that data and link it to teachers. Teachers have some fears that are justified and some that are paranoia. What do you do with an average teacher who gets the honors kids who score well and are motivated by parents who care, and another who's a great teacher but works with the lowest kids because she can get the most out of them but they continually score at failing levels because the teacher isn't getting any support or effort? What about teachers of Social Studies, Science, Art, Music, Gym, etc, that don't test in that subject? Do they get raises for helping test scores? Test scores should be a factor, but what has more effect on test scores: home life and family support, or a teacher? If you count up all of the hours a student spends with teachers a year, it's less than 38 days. That little time with students who could care less, and no wonder the teachers are afraid. Their jobs would now depend on deadbeat students and parents.

Side note: Spent a week this past summer out in St. Louis as a NAEP standard setter. I was BLOWN AWAY at how well NJ Kids scored. It really made me feel bad for NJ teachers who were so vilified by the Governor. When I came back home I thanked my Mom who was a Delran public middle school teacher for over 30 years. Just amazing.

http://nationsreportcard.gov/testyourself.asp

Seriously, near the river... blow the bridges, NJ is easy to defend from the rest of the country once its infected.

And, we still have two dragstrips in the state. (Atco and Englishtown).

Watch any zombie movie or show and you'll discover that it isn't the undead that you need to worry about. It's the living...

I don't give it out anymore; I did once on here and was not happy that I did.

exactly!!! well said. he taxes are no worse here then in the pa Philly burbs. Ya get what ya pay for..

so true!! If you don't like it, no one is keeping ya here!!

The grass ain't always greener!! Come on back!!

If you would "love and give anything" to come back, how about you buy my house? I can't wait to get out.

wrong too! lol. You guys are funny... Im not who others have guess I am. I'm Just a happy, regular Cinnaminson resident.. What tax is that you speak of? 50%, you are not telling the truth here.. Like I said before.. You want to complain, try the other side.. You will come running back..

Duck pond it is :)

Yes the turnpike tolls went up (I don't use it too often) but I do use the Pa turnpike and its the most expensive turnpike tolls in the country.

Hey alpha.. I see you finally made it on here huh?:)