Hi, Ed, can New Jersey take a page out of American Idol Give Back? If we want to get out of this budget deficit, how about setting up an event called New Jersey Gives Back, and every citizen who wants to can donate $1, $5, $10 or $20. This is better than people losing jobs and cutting services. It would be voluntary. People with a good heart would just give. I am proud to be from New Jersey and I would give back to help.

Good Heart

OK. So we pay income tax, property taxes and whatever other assorted taxes and fees, and now we’re supposed to dig deep out of the kindness of our hearts to bail out a bloated bureaucracy that can’t manage its money? If I’m going to use my “good heart,” I’d rather save a starving child or plant a tree.—Ed. Note