A Declaration of Independence for NJ Voters

Chris Daggett, independent candidate for governor in New Jersey, has taken a page out of the Poli-Tea playbook with a commentary entitled, "A Declaration of Independence for NJ Voters." It's well worth a close read. Some excerpts:

Independent voters are the fulcrum by which elections now swing in America, but that has long been true in New Jersey. Here in the Garden State the number of unaffiliated voters total more than 2.4 million, dwarfing the number of registered Democrats (1.8 million) and registered Republicans (1 million).

A recent survey by the Pew Research Center found evidence of the same political transformation taking place across the nation. The number of independent voters has soared to its highest point on record with 39 percent, up from 30 percent since the 2008 election. At the same time, the number of registered voters aligning themselves with the traditional parties has declined dramatically.

Perhaps more significant is the fact that independents are now the youngest voting bloc overall with 44 percent of Americans born after 1977 identifying themselves as independent . . .

New Jerseyans know it is time for a change. It is recognized not only by independent voters, but also by many of the Republicans and Democrats who after voting along party lines time and again have seen the state's fiscal problems only grow worse in the past 15 years . . .

Across America, voters have rejected major party candidates and elected independents to lead. In Connecticut, Lowell Weicker was elected governor as an independent. Maine chose independent Angus King to run its state for nearly a decade. Michael Bloomberg has governed so well as an independent in New York City, he is the overwhelmingly favorite to win a third term.

In New Jersey, both political parties have demonstrated repeatedly that they no longer know how to work together to resolve the state's fiscal crisis. It is time to shake up the whole political system in this state. We can no longer afford partisan approaches to non-partisan issues. . . .

Government bodies in New Jersey at all levels---municipal, local school districts, county and state-have been living beyond their means. We simply must get control of the fixed costs that are at the core of overall government spending.

The only way to change state government in New Jersey is to elect an independent. Only an independent has the ability to choose the best and brightest people to work on the many problems facing the state today. Only an independent will take on the special interests that have blocked real change in New Jersey.