By

Ray Pinney 

Sometimes, when you want to gauge what people are thinking, you have to ignore the people who are doing the most talking.  I am angry with myself in that I fell into the trap of starting to believe that all those people who post online comments on newspaper stories and who call into 101.5 FM radio reflect the sentiments of the average citizen.  If this week’s school elections are any indication, those people are voicing the minority opinion.  My advice to you is to disregard these comments because they represent very little in the great scheme of things except one person’s opinion and in many cases, an ill-informed opinion at that. My further advice is don’t let these postings get to you and cause you to become a bit shallow and petty, as I have. (More about this below. )

Let me give you a few examples of what was posted on articles about the vote on school budgets.  Please keep in mind these are just a few samples and I did not edit their comments one bit.  (I wouldn’t think of editing these jewels of the English language!)

It’s way past the time when the teachers union, the administrators and the school boards in New Jersey are sent a strong message. The vast majority of these people are in denial and have no clue what it is like in the real world. With their cushy contracts, benefits and pensions, they are bankrupting New Jerseyians.

There are very few people working in the private sector who enjoy the bennies and salaries these people receive for working 180 days a year. And the “double the inflation rate” raises just keep on coming due to “weak in the knees” school boards who in many cases have a vested interest in doling out the big raises.

…And when the budgets are defeasted we have to hold the town councils feet to the fire so they don’t just do “token” cuts to these bloated school budgets. It’s time to kill the “Goose that laid the Golden Egg”.

Star-Ledger, April 21, 2009

Sorry, everyone must “share the pain”. Also, since the state is in “imminent peril” financially, vote NO.

Star-Ledger, April 21, 2009

Paying for sports, and other activities, when did it become the school districts responsibility to pay for this, when the belt needs tightening, extras are the first to go, bye sports, bye busing, go to the closest school, and learn, no band, no art, no field trips.   This is like a person complaining about not being able to go vacation when their house is in foreclosure. WAKE UP

Philadelphia Inquirer, April 21, 2009

After reading numerous postings like these I was a bit concerned that voters might fall for their misguided rhetoric. Last week I wrote in the blog The Implications of the 2009 School Election that I was concerned that the economy would play a major in role in the budget vote. However, this year’s budget vote proved many of the prognosticators wrong because about 73% of the school budgets passed. 

What are the implications?  There are two implications of this vote.  The first is that New Jerseyans, as I stated in my previous blog, have for the most part been strong supporters of public education.  It is a priority issue with the voters and they are reluctant to do anything that might affect the quality of education we provide in New Jersey.  While there is consternation in some corners about the percentage of voters who turn out for these elections, for the past 30 years, an average of 70 percent of school budgets have passed. That counts for something. A 73% approval rate in the current economic climate is a strong indication that NJ voters remain deeply committed to public education. That is something I think our state legislators might want to take notice of. 

The second implication is that what you read or hear from the vocal minority should be taken with a very large grain of salt.  In fact, I would recommend that you ignore the online posters completely.  (With the notable exception of those of you who comment on and correct the mistakes in these postings!)  In my view, if the person posting an opinion  does not have the gumption to state his or her name, and instead chooses to hide behind a pseudonym, then the opinion should be ignored.

I have to admit that there are times when I do not follow my own advice. The day after the election, I made it a point to read the online comments attached to the newspaper articles that reported the passage of more than 70% of the state’s school budgets.

So, this proves that you people are all sheep… keep voting yes on school budgets and keep voting in favor of higher property taxes.

Is there something in the water?

Star-Ledger, April 21, 2009

Proves just how stupid the majority of the people are in this state, proves how Corzine got voted into office…..

Star-Ledger, April 21, 2009

My personal favorite that appeared in the Burlington Times, was a response to another poster’s recommendation to look for your polling place on your sample ballot:  

once again lorilarose, got your head up your arse. our sample ballots did not have the polling place. Now stfu you willingboro s****.

Why is that posting one of my favorites?  First, because I think it reflects the negativity of those who bash public education.  Second, although I hate to admit it, I must say that I reveled in the misery of those who hoped that all the school budgets would go down in flames and instead saw them pass.  I know this is shallow and I plan to work on this personal flaw in the future! 

But the big lesson here is that while those who do not support public education may loudly proclaim their views online, those of us who are public education supporters just quietly vote.  We may be sheep, as one online post said, but at least we flock to the polling place!

This entry was posted on Thursday, April 23rd, 2009 at 4:33 pm and is filed under Out and About. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.