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New Study Says NJ Is One of the Least Honest States. Are We Really That Bad?
A national poll says NJ cheats often, but not as often as the cast of Cheaters
Every so often a study pops up that tries to drag New Jersey’s reputation through the mud, and this time it is about honesty. According to new national polling from Solitaire Bliss, our state lands near the top of the rankings for cheating, bending rules, and cutting corners. Out of fifty states, New Jersey came in at number 13 for the most willing to cheat.
It is not exactly flattering, but let’s take a look at what the findings actually say and whether Jersey really deserves the shade.
Where NJ Slips Up
The report breaks dishonesty into different everyday behaviors and compares states on each one. A few categories where residents admitted to stretching the truth caught my eye:
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Cheating at store checkouts
Almost half of New Jersey respondents admitted to this at least once. That score puts us around the middle of the pack, but still higher than most of the country.
Cheating at work
This one lands us in the top 10. About 44 percent of New Jersey adults acknowledged cutting ethical corners on the job at some point. Whether that means taking credit for a group project or clocking out a little late, it is still enough to drag our average upward.
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Diet cheating
Here is the funny part. We are among the least guilty states when it comes to cheating on diets, yet 72 percent still admitted to it. If that is considered low, the rest of the country must be living on nothing but broken New Year’s resolutions.
And for anyone wondering whether this cheating trend spills over into relationships, the national average was just over one in three adults admitting they have cheated on a partner. The study did not break that down by state, but let’s be honest, if anyone finds out someday that Elon Musk or Donald Trump tops the list of celebrity cheaters, nobody in New Jersey will be shocked.
The Jersey Reputation Problem
New Jersey already gets teased enough as it is. From people calling us the armpit of America to outsiders acting like everyone here drives 100 miles per hour on the Parkway, our image rarely gets a break. Adding “dishonest” to the list feels like salt in the wound.
Still, in true Jersey fashion, a lot of people will probably shrug and say, “So what?” We have toll cheats, rotating license plates, blackout covers, and a long history of trying to outsmart red light cameras. It has always been part of our folklore, not exactly a statewide moral collapse.
And honestly, half the country would not know what cheating even looks like if they did not grow up watching the classic TV show Cheaters. I miss that show more than I should admit. Joey Greco getting stabbed during a sting operation was peak television.
Should We Take This Study Seriously?
These rankings are entertaining, but they are not exactly a referendum on our character. Almost every category shows a huge portion of Americans bending rules in one way or another. New Jersey simply stands out because we are loud, bold, and not shy about admitting it.
Maybe that is the lesson here. Other states pretend to be saints. We tell the truth about how often we lie.
If the rest of the country wants to call that dishonest, so be it.
