SO WHY ARE WE NOT SURPRISED?

From the Philadelphia Daily News Thursday, June 27, 2002

HEADLINE:  “Most in Jersey poll have dim view of officials”

Many New Jersey residents are skeptical of those in political and governmental positions.  In fact, they think they’re downright selfish and crooked.

One-third of the respondents to a Star-Ledger/Eagleton-Rutgers poll said there is “a lot” of political corruption in New Jersey, and 51 per cent said there is “some”.

Sixty-four percent said they believe most people go into politics for personal gain, and nearly seven of 10 residents feel that politicians look out more for themselves than their constituents.

Yet when asked how they would rate the quality of government in New Jersey, 43 per cent of respondents said it was “good”.

Forty-two per cent said “only fair”, 9 per cent said “poor” and 4 per cent said “excellent”.