Just got back from a wedding in Jersey, and have determined that New Jersey has a lot going for it, and a lot of peculiarities to it as well.
First the good:
Mandatory recycling. Recycling is curb side and everything goes, this is a great benefit, as there are no third parties involved or hippies to worry about, everyone just recycles. Recycling also requires little effort on the user, plastic, glass, and metals all go in the same container, then paper products in another.
Now the strange:
Everyone drives everywhere, but there are lots of trees. Like a giant suburbia, where the trees have not yet been killed off by the logging industry. Now, having ridden my bike for most of my life, and having walked the dogs in the morning, I have become more aware of my sense of smell. And oddly New Jersey smells like conflict, the conflict between the cars trying to pollute the world and the trees absorbing that pollution and releasing oxygen. Quite and odd balance when the brain is in a toss up between choking on smog and relaxing from the fresh air. I know it does not make sense, but then that is why it is strange.
And finally the Ferengi of New Jersey:
You pay for everything. All gas stations are full service, there are mostly toll road to get anywhere, and all parking costs money. Now, I understand the limited resources and the need to keep things in repair, but at a point it starts to feel more like extortion than a service. Take for instance, that is costs to go the beach, both to park anywhere within a mile and to get onto the beach. That said the beaches are clean and were almost empty. Next all gas stations are full service, and being from the Midwest where all gas stations are self-serv it is a little odd. Though I guess people need work, and they have been concerned about people running off with gas, which these days is impossible with the credit card pumps. It also troubles my about how you'd get gas late at night as well, seems like a loss of revenue. The charging for everything, does lead to one VERY noticeable thing a MASSIVE class divide. There are actually free beaches, and highways. However, they are terribly maintained and most of the store nearby have bars in the windows. It seems that capitalism in government works, it forces the poor to have terrible roads and beach, but then forces them to work as full service gas attendants. It just strikes me as a bad way to go, and that the better way would be to tax everyone to keep the beaches clean and the roads fixed, so that the poor could also enjoy simple things like going to beach without having to worry about broken glass, or drive down the road without worrying about pot holes, that will damage their cars, putting them further behind. End this here, as it makes for it's own thought to be explored in more detail later.
First the good:
Mandatory recycling. Recycling is curb side and everything goes, this is a great benefit, as there are no third parties involved or hippies to worry about, everyone just recycles. Recycling also requires little effort on the user, plastic, glass, and metals all go in the same container, then paper products in another.
Now the strange:
Everyone drives everywhere, but there are lots of trees. Like a giant suburbia, where the trees have not yet been killed off by the logging industry. Now, having ridden my bike for most of my life, and having walked the dogs in the morning, I have become more aware of my sense of smell. And oddly New Jersey smells like conflict, the conflict between the cars trying to pollute the world and the trees absorbing that pollution and releasing oxygen. Quite and odd balance when the brain is in a toss up between choking on smog and relaxing from the fresh air. I know it does not make sense, but then that is why it is strange.
And finally the Ferengi of New Jersey:
You pay for everything. All gas stations are full service, there are mostly toll road to get anywhere, and all parking costs money. Now, I understand the limited resources and the need to keep things in repair, but at a point it starts to feel more like extortion than a service. Take for instance, that is costs to go the beach, both to park anywhere within a mile and to get onto the beach. That said the beaches are clean and were almost empty. Next all gas stations are full service, and being from the Midwest where all gas stations are self-serv it is a little odd. Though I guess people need work, and they have been concerned about people running off with gas, which these days is impossible with the credit card pumps. It also troubles my about how you'd get gas late at night as well, seems like a loss of revenue. The charging for everything, does lead to one VERY noticeable thing a MASSIVE class divide. There are actually free beaches, and highways. However, they are terribly maintained and most of the store nearby have bars in the windows. It seems that capitalism in government works, it forces the poor to have terrible roads and beach, but then forces them to work as full service gas attendants. It just strikes me as a bad way to go, and that the better way would be to tax everyone to keep the beaches clean and the roads fixed, so that the poor could also enjoy simple things like going to beach without having to worry about broken glass, or drive down the road without worrying about pot holes, that will damage their cars, putting them further behind. End this here, as it makes for it's own thought to be explored in more detail later.
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