To the editor: You might consider this either the height of moral umbrage or the depths of political cynicism, but I would wish to point out the following: 1. You will notice how quickly the suggestion to levy a tax on professional services such as accounting, legal services, law offices, etc. died a quiet death in the Assembly. I believe several prominent politicians said there was little support for such a move. So, in effect, they are going to tax you into oblivion, but don’t dare suggest they will be taxed as well. 2. You will undoubtedly notice the enormous leap in fees for things as sundry as motor vehicles, car rentals, hunting and fishing, camping, et al. But nothing in the fees is going towards improvement or maintenance of those particular items. The extra money is going directly to the state. One has to wonder how long that can go on, and how high the fees will go, before they collapse of their own weight. 3. There is currently a bill in the Assembly, sponsored by Steven Sweeney from South Jersey, (Yes, that Steven Sweeney of the unions must give in fame.) that would mandate an across the board cut of 10 percent in both legislative pay and legislative staff until the state shows either fiscal stability and/or a surplus in the state treasury. I, for one, will be curious to see the ultimate fate of this bill and whether it will even be heard. 4. Here are two ways to save money right now. a. End all pensions for part time employees of the state of New Jersey. b. End any and all pensions, payouts , salaries, perks, etc., for any public official, elected or appointed, who is convicted of wrongdoing, pleads guilty to any crime or misdemeanor, or who is forced to resign due to breaches in conduct or ethics The fact of the matter is that this state, wealthy and well off, has hit the financial wall, without the excuses of natural disaster, terrorist attack, or intrinsically ingrained poverty. It is time for true guts and lucid problem solving, and neither liberal whines of compassion or conservative calls for staying the course are going to cut it. I hope that what I have written provokes some feedback and debate. We need that. We also need some action, somehow, somewhere or many of us will not be living in this state a few years hence. Gerard F. Keogh West Milford