« And they lived happily ever after … in Hell | Main | The Daily Memo - 5/3/06 »
“But if I have to get out of my car in the scorching heat of summer, I might start sweating, and this state already stinks enough!”
Growing up, many people I knew referred to New Jersey, the so-called Garden State, as “the armpit of America.” It should go without saying that there are many bad things about the state and, as such, many folks use it for little more than a thoroughfare to and from New York, via the Jersey Turnpike. Those people know that one of the things at the top of the list of bad things about New Jersey is its law prohibiting the self-service of gas. When you pull into a turnpike rest stop, you invariably have to get at the back of one of the wretchedly long lines of cars waiting to refuel. These lines are long because the attendant service is slower than molasses, largely due to the fact that there is often a single attendant handling four pumps at once, casually walking to the various pumps in between conversation breaks with another attendant. It is a nightmare, and just makes you want to get out of the state all the quicker.
Well, these commuters will be happy to know that the state is finally considering dumping this prohibition, behind the push of Governor Corzine, in an effort to lower gas costs. Apparently, however, this does not come without heated debated. Seems many locals are outraged at the proposition, unhappy about the prospect of having to step out of their vehicle in rain or heat. Said one Jerseyan, “it’s intrinsic to New Jersey’s culture.” And another added that “this is what makes New Jersey unique - the fact that we don’t have to pump our own gas.”
Seriously, the best these folks can come up with in terms of state pride is “New Jersey - the home of attendant-only gas pumping.” And they wonder why they’re the armpit of America.
