The Principles of Politics

North Carolina is the most corrupt states in the country with all due respect to Louisiana, Illinois and New Jersey. From City Hall, to the County Courthouse, to the halls of the State Legislature and the Governors Mansion, NC has quietly, under the radar, become known as the most corrupt state in the country.

It is a time honored tradition if you are a democratic elected official in NC to be well versed in voter fraud, financial kickback, political patronage, nepotism, cronyism and just plain ole greed and being power hungry.

Just for the record, I was a lifelong Republican who has grown weary of both parties as the Republicans , the few opportunities they had in power, abused it also.

Absolute power corrupts absolutely. Both parties all they do is play the blame game and neither works in most cases for the citizens who put them there. I’m not a democratic basher. It just so happens that for the last 150 plus years, Dems have had a stranglehold on most federal politics and an absolute lock on local and state politics. For years, NC was a one party state and local Dem Boss Hogs controlled local city and county politics. If you were not a registered democrat you could pretty much forget about being involved in politics. It hasn't changed a whole lot.

James B Hunt was the absolute master of political patronage and cronyism . He made most state boards and departments his personal political dumping grounds for his big donors and cronies. A lot of them turned out corrupt and used their positions to benefit financially or further their special interest causes. His protégés, Easley, Perdue, Basnight, Rand, Black, Wright, Ballance, Swindell, Meg Scott Phipps and a host of others have learned how to play the game well. Unlike their mentor some of them forgot how to not get caught. NC Politics rival the corruption filled heydays of the Long Dynasty in Louisiana when Earl K and Huey and their ancestors left a stench on that illustrious states political legacy.

A lot of newly registered voters, especially young ones, are registering as unaffiliated not wanting to tie themselves to the self serving interest of either party. Unfortunately in NC, the two main parties have made the rules where it is virtually impossible for an independent or unaffiliated as independent is not a designated registration option or candidate selection option. If you can clear almost impossible petition hurdles you can petition to get on the general election ballot in November. This is unlike the party candidates who if they draw no party primary opposition they are automatically on the November ballot and if they don’t draw either republican or democratic opposition as the case may be they are automatically elected without any challenges or options to the electorate.

There seems to be a growing discontent among the electorate about being taken for granted by these pompous arrogant elected officials. One can only hope and pray that the "we are mad as hell and are not going to take it anymore " electorate mentality is for real and not a passing fad.

 
Guest Blogger: Daryl Barber