NJ in Top 10 most educated, but dumb enough to put up with this (Opinion)

Say what you will about New Jersey, but we’re sharp. We’re intelligent. In fact, according to recent census data we rank eighth in the country for college degrees. The majority of New Jersey residents has an associates degree or greater.

We also have the distinction of being fourth lowest in the nation for having some college but no degree. In other words, in true Jersey fashion, we finish what we start.

The way it breaks down for the most educated is as follows:

1 District of Columbia

2 Massachusetts

3 Maryland

4 Vermont

5 Connecticut

6 Virginia

7 New York

8 New Jersey

9 Colorado

10 New Hampshire

There’s no denying it. We’re smart. So my question is, how can people as smart as us also be so dumb?

Think about what we tolerate. Would smart people tolerate a school funding system that led to the nation’s highest property taxes? The average property tax bill is now $9,490.

If we’re so smart how did we re-elect Bob Menendez to the U.S. Senate after his first corruption scandal? Here we are a few years later with more indictments and lots of gold bars. Geniuses, aren’t we?

How did we tolerate a toll road system that became a self-fulfilling, self-perpetuating cash cow for the highway authorities by constantly remaining in debt so that the tollbooths would never come down as promised in the beginning? Was this smart of us?

How on earth did we put up with being gaslighted into thinking waiting too long for a rude gas attendant was a luxury? We’re more educated than most of the country yet we’re scared to pump our own gas like frightened little children?

Perhaps the biggest paradox of all. If we’re so smart, how did we re-elect a power hungry mutant like Phil Murphy?

Surely we’re smart enough to see we can be doing better.

Opinions expressed in the post above are those of New Jersey 101.5 talk show host Jeff Deminski only.

You can now listen to Deminski & Doyle — On Demand! Hear New Jersey’s favorite afternoon radio show any day of the week. Download the Deminski & Doyle show wherever you get podcasts, on our free app, or listen right now.

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