Soprano State: New Jersey's Culture of Corruption

TIME TO DUMP THE GOOD OL BOYS!

A great reading experience that opens your eyes to how deep corruption is in New Jersey.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

The Soprano State a Must Read!

The book was an easy read, even though the content made my stomach uneasy. If you live in the Great State of New Jersey this book should be required reading. After you read it, if you ever vote for another incumbent, you will get what you deserve.

Great Book!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A REAL TREAT

To this reader, 'The Soprano State' was a mighty fine read. Bravo to the two author's for their free flowing prose. The only drawback in this book I found was the lack of elaboration on the Public Employment Relations Commission, which I believe is also part of the body politic. Otherwise, it's certainly a book for our times. Seems to me that there will never be a paragon in either major party on the east coast. If I were privileged though to add one last sentence to this book, it would read: 'Let us even pray that our leaders would see the truth and light.'

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Highly recommended

Everyone should read this book before going to the polls. This book was about New Jersey, but I have no doubt that shady politics go on in all 50.

A journalism primer

¿The Soprano State¿ should be required reading for every budding journalist. It shows just how far the egotists we keep electing and entrusting with government cofers will go to advance themselves. It¿s a delightful read even if politicians aren¿t that bad in your state ... you think. The two authors have done a masterful job in capturing the laughter and larceny that abounds in the state house and its environs. Send another book our way. Barbara Knowles News Editor Newton Citizen Covington, Ga.

PROFOUND / ENGAGING

Reads easy and smooth like good fiction. 5 stars plus one. I must say though that only God himself really knows the depth of the modern day corruption that seems to permeate this most heavily populated State. The authors did a swell job expounding on the alleged conditions in New Jersey. I've known people from this State and at least some of the subject matter in this book corroborates their stories. I myself have visited NJ before and I found that it had many desirable attributes, like the Jersey Shore for instance. Conversely, I don't have any doubts why anyone would want to move out of this beautiful State due to the preposterous school taxes and the high cost of housing. Could it be that the developers pay off politicians to skirt environmental and building moratorium laws? I surely don't believe everything in the printed form but this book, along with others, points to the 'signs of the times' so to speak. This book was worth the price and the time expended to digest the information given. Where the population is multiplied, so is the corruption it seems. The most interesting and prominent feature here was the public sector accounts which point to the lack of accountability. Is this book a clarion call for better checks and balances? Read for yourself and make your own assessment. By and large, the funniest part was chapter 8: ' The Gospel According to the Mob.' In closing, I must say that truly there is nothing hidden that will not be made manifest eventually!

NEIGHBOR MR. SPITZER: NEW YORK STATE

There is something-to be said for: SURVIVAL. To his credit: current Governor Jon Corzine survived terrible auto injuries from his SUV, and is still GOVERNING. In stark contrast: the swift-sorrow-to Neighbor Mr. Spitzer of New York State. Governor Spitzer was forced-to resign this week. With NJ being'The Garden State,' the motto on license plates: it has a lengthy history as The Turnpike State,from-and-to, two, BIG states. Corruption goes-back, you know, to times and places PRIOR-TO current scandals. Can the current authors HELP BRING-BACK JOBS TO NEW JERSEY?

SOPRANOLAND-BERGEN COUNTY,NJ

Great Book however--there is SO MUCH MORE TO SAY...SOMEONE should LOOK at the Family Court and those corrupt liar/lawyers who collude with those men who wear those long dark Robes...decisions are made on the golf course or in some small back room-,out of the way restaurant, race track--or, tennis anyone? The lives of children and women are destroyed--all it takes is MONEY$$$$...those with it-WIN--those with Influence-WIN..there is alot of influence peddling, finessing of the court personnel,etc....corruption,pay to play and cronyism is alive and well in those halls of Injustice.... and folks,....there is no one minding the store! The RICO statutes should be invoked.....the liar/lawyers who know the Judges also collude and they make up the law as they go along.....it is truly Kafkaesque!!! Any thoughts people?

News we mostly already know

Ingle and McClure have done a comprehensive search of news articles (many wrtittent by the colleagues in NJ's Gannett State House bureau) cataloged and presented them in a way that reminds us of the corruption in New jersey. They do a good job of noting the explosion of ethical lapses under New Jersey's acting governors and the wackiness of Governors McGreevy and Corzine (both of whom, from the accounts in this book, have serious problems with letting their affairs of the heart get in the way of the affairs of state). This book would be a lot more interesting if it were not so self-referential and if it broke new ground.

A real page-turner...reads like fiction

Far and away, the best nonfiction I've read in years! I couldn't put it down...reads like fiction. I live in California and feared it might only be of interest to those who live in New Jersey. Boy, was I wrong. Ingle and McClure are remarkable reporters who'll keep you spellbound. Perhaps 'The Soprano State' wouldn't be as halarious if you resided in New Jersey but it is that and fascinating.

This book would be funny if it wasn't about us.

The Soprano State by Bob Ingle and Sandy McClure will either inspire New Jersey residents to clean up our government or head for the exits while the tolls are still affordable. Leaving would be easier. Ingle and McClure chronicle corruption at all levels of New Jersey's government from the Byrne administration through the present day fiascos of the Corzine administration. If Governor Corzine really believes, as he has said, that our fiscal crisis can't be solved by weeding out waste, fraud and abuse, he needs to read this book. With both familiar accounts and never before published material, The Soprano State, would be funny if it were not about us. Monmouth County is featured prominently, as is most of the state. It is amazing that Ingle and McClure were able to squeeze so much sleaze into 300 pages. This book is a must read for all who live in and love New Jersey. It goes on sale Tuesday. Thank you to Bob Ingle for the advance copy. Even though you ruined my weekend, this work is critically important to all who make our homes and operate our businesses in New Jersey.

A reviewer

I'm in the middle of reading The Soprano State, and the travesty of justice to the ordinary taxpayers of NJ is appalling and almost more than I can take in. I'm wondering if there are any honest politicians in NJ or beyond, or do those two words not go together. We have a bloated, bloated, bloated government who exist for themselves, not the people. What do we do about this? Just allow this miscarriage of justice to go merrily along at our great and overwhelming expense?

Finally, the truth comes out!

This book isn't out yet and I haven't read it, but premise for it makes it 5 stars instantly. New Jersey is the worst state in the USA. I don't even consider it a state anymore. In my mind, the USA only has 49 states, because NJ is a socialist republic. Every person that has ever paid a dime in taxes needs to read this book, so that their state doesn't end up like that joke that New Jersey has become.

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