Things Everyone Should Read – Richard Hofstadter, “The Paranoid Style in American Politics”

Things Everyone Should Read – Richard Hofstadter, “The Paranoid Style in American Politics”: [Hofstadter quoted] "Close attention to history wins for Mr. Welch an insight into affairs that is given to few of us. “For many reasons and after a lot of study,” he wrote some years ago, “I personally believe [John Foster] Dulles to be a Communist agent.” The job of Professor Arthur F. Burns as head of Eisenhower’s Council of Economic Advisors was “merely a cover-up for Burns’s liaison work between Eisenhower and some of his Communist bosses.” Eisenhower’s brother Milton was “actually [his] superior and boss within the Communist party.” As for Eisenhower himself, Welch characterized him, in words that have made the candy manufacturer famous, as “a dedicated, conscious agent of the Communist conspiracy”–a conclusion, he added, “based on an accumulation of detailed evidence so extensive and so palpable that it seems to put this conviction beyond any reasonable doubt.”"

Camden County proposes regional police and fire services | Philadelphia Inquirer | 01/15/2011

Camden County proposes regional police and fire services | Philadelphia Inquirer | 01/15/2011: "A few towns have expressed interest, Cappelli said. He expects the force would be rolled out over a number of years.

'There's a potential for more officers on the street and less administration,' he said. 'There's over 30 police chiefs in Camden County, dozens of school superintendents and municipal administrators. There's a lot of redundancies that need to be eliminated.'

Regionalized law enforcement is relatively common in the South and West, where sheriff's departments patrol vast and often sparsely populated areas. At times cities and suburbs have looked to that model over the last two decades, said Dennis Kenney, a professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City."

Camden County now preparing for big layoffs | Philadelphia Inquirer | 01/15/2011

Camden County now preparing for big layoffs | Philadelphia Inquirer | 01/15/2011

From the article: "Camden County is preparing to lay off almost one-sixth of its workforce by the end of March.

In paperwork submitted Friday to the New Jersey Civil Service Commission, the county said it would let go up to 261 of its 1,800 workers. The County Prosecutor's Office is also preparing to lay off up to 68 of its 230 employees, said spokesman Jason Laughlin.

Camden County is trying to close a budget gap of $41 million, the result of falling revenue and increases in pension and benefit costs, said Freeholder Director Louis Cappelli Jr.

"We are preparing for the worst as we develop our budget for the year," he said. "We're going to have a difficult time, not just this year but next year as well."

The filings come as state and local governments struggle to fill widening budget gaps during the ongoing economic downturn.

In the past, New Jersey governments might have filled the gap with tax hikes, but that option was minimized when Gov. Christie signed legislation last year capping property-tax increases at 2 percent.

County officials had been in discussion with the county workers' union for voluntary salary cuts of 10 percent, only months after signing a new three-year contract, said Council 10 President Karl Walko.

But the union resisted those concessions, having just received a 3.5 percent pay increase."

Camden County Freeholders Introduce 2010 Budget | Camden County, NJ

The press release linked seems to be a good starting point for seeing what issues county government faces. I think I will be returning to it often. This is just one part of it:

Camden County Freeholders Introduce 2010 Budget | Camden County, NJ: "Camden County started with a 2010 budget deficit of over $35 million. Some of the major causes are as follows:

* Increase in employee compensation costs (Medical benefits, pension, etc.)
* Loss of state revenue (Prosecutor, College, Tech School, and Health Services Center)
* Reduction of non-tax revenue (Interest income, register of deeds, etc.)
* Reduction in surplus funds as an item of revenue
* Increases in general operating expenses including utilities for county facilities; food and medical at the jail, etc."

Getting Started: What does county government do?

New Jersey Citizens Guide to Government: "The county government is responsible for the construction and maintenance of county roads and bridges and the operation of a county jail. It may operate many programs such as police and fire training academies and emergency services, maintain park and recreation systems, administer programs for special groups, and usually assumes public health functions."