"And I just think that we're at a point in our economic life here in our state - and - and, candidly, across the country, where increased taxes is just the wrong way to go. The people of our state are not convinced that state government, county government, local government has done all they can with the money we already give them, rather than the money that we have before"
About this Quote
The key move is the pivot from “increased taxes” to “the wrong way to go.” That’s not an argument so much as a direction sign. He’s steering the audience away from revenue questions and toward trust. Notice how fast the target becomes “state government, county government, local government” - a full stack indictment. By broadening the blame, Christie converts a budgeting debate into a referendum on the entire public sector’s credibility. The phrase “has done all they can with the money we already give them” is the emotional payload: it invites listeners to picture waste without naming any, letting grievances fill in the blanks.
Even the grammar tells on the strategy. “Increased taxes is” and the clunky “the money that we have before” suggest a speaker in motion, prioritizing momentum over precision. That works for a politician who sells impatience as authenticity. Contextually, it’s classic post-recession, anti-tax politics: austerity dressed as accountability, with “the people… are not convinced” functioning as a shield. If you disagree, you’re not debating Christie; you’re defying the public he claims to channel.
Quote Details
| Topic | Money |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Christie, Chris. (2026, January 17). And I just think that we're at a point in our economic life here in our state - and - and, candidly, across the country, where increased taxes is just the wrong way to go. The people of our state are not convinced that state government, county government, local government has done all they can with the money we already give them, rather than the money that we have before. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/and-i-just-think-that-were-at-a-point-in-our-72593/
Chicago Style
Christie, Chris. "And I just think that we're at a point in our economic life here in our state - and - and, candidly, across the country, where increased taxes is just the wrong way to go. The people of our state are not convinced that state government, county government, local government has done all they can with the money we already give them, rather than the money that we have before." FixQuotes. January 17, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/and-i-just-think-that-were-at-a-point-in-our-72593/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"And I just think that we're at a point in our economic life here in our state - and - and, candidly, across the country, where increased taxes is just the wrong way to go. The people of our state are not convinced that state government, county government, local government has done all they can with the money we already give them, rather than the money that we have before." FixQuotes, 17 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/and-i-just-think-that-were-at-a-point-in-our-72593/. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.
