Last night on the bus my driver and fellow passengers erupted into a spontaneous round of discourse on the state budget, prompted a coming 30% fare-increase that the state transit agency says is necessary to bridge a gap that will be caused by proposed cuts to the state budget.

Today, as I watch our governor delivery his very first annual budget address to the state legislature, I can barely hear what he has to say; the memory of the voices of those passengers, nearly all riding home from work or school, risen in protest and/or dismay at what is to come.

"Christie is shooting the working-class citizenin the foot," said one woman.

Another, seated two rows away, called out, "I'm going to have to work overtime just to pay for bus fare!"

"At least y'all have jobs already," muttered a nursing student as she toyed with her school ID.

"Umm hmm," agreed another young woman in medical scrubs.

"You gotta vote next time," the bus driver admonished us all.

They were still talking, some scribbling down information about a transit public hearing the driver exhorted us all to attend, when we reached my stop and I got off the bus.