HIGHLIGHTS OF NJ CORRUPTION HUMOR

Compliments to Monica Yant Kinney, Philadelphia Inquirer columnist, who wrote the following suggestions for New Jersey's "name search.":




New Jersey: The only state you have to pay to leave."

What you make, Trenton takes

Paul Viggiano of Haddon Heights seemed to be speaking directly to Gov.-elect Jon Corzine with his slogan:
"Come to New Jersey, where the landscape will take your breath away - and so will your tax bill."

Come to think of it, so did John Miscenich, who wrote, "New Jersey: Things are as bad as they seem."

After an ugly election, it's no surprise many of you focused your pen on politicians behaving badly.
"New Jersey: Where the roads are paved and the pockets lined with good intentions" was how Mount Laurel's Joe Reale saw it.

"New Jersey: Pay to play, play to win" came from Chuck Fest, a retired gym teacher in Moorestown.

Now, a slogan like "New Jersey: You got a problem with that?" certainly speaks to our feisty point of view.

But "New Jersey: Corrupt and proud" is probably a bit edgier than anything Codey has in mind.
Everyone loves The Sopranos, but something tells me the tourism board won't go for your mobbed-up mottos.

So to Paul DeSantis, I apologize.
"New Jersey: We can have you killed" may be, technically, true. But is it inviting?
From The Sopranos to Springsteen, you do love your Jersey guys.

My favorite Bruce looter? Roger Weaver of Medford, who reminded us:
"New Jersey: It's a death trap, it's a suicide rap, get out while you're young."

And the winner is...
Coming in third place is Jim Shulman, a well-traveled marketing consultant from Bryn Mawr with the ethically challenged "New Jersey: One state, under indictment."
Great work, Jim. How much would you have charged for that?

Second place goes to Michelle Hong for the "It's so obvious, I can't believe I didn't think of it" slogan:
"New Jersey: Way better than Old Jersey."
Michelle, I mean this when I say I can see that one on a trucker hat.

And the winner?
After several sleepless nights and expensive psychic consultations, I hereby award first place to Katie Yeager, a recent arrival from Colorado.
Yeager's entry blends her culture shock and outsider's bemusement.
Even better? It's a double entendre, if one is inclined to read it that way.
And here, without further ado, is your new state slogan:
"New Jersey: Everything you've heard is true."