This past winter a cousin of mine from Houston was visiting.
As a child she had lived abroad in many different countries with her parents. They visited most summers, and she remembered eating the good food out of the garden, and she especially remembered squash fritters and wanted to know if could I cook them for her.
Sadly, I told her, squash fritters are seasonal, and that just can’t get the correct texture and taste with winter squash. Even if all the other ingredients were the same, without the fresh, yellow hook-necked squash, you were not going to have a good result.
I believe the same goes for politicians. If a politician is intelligent, hard working, diligent, and diplomatic, but lacks the essential ingredients of integrity and honesty, you are not going to have a good result. What can be done to encourage more people of integrity and honesty to run for office?
One solution is voter-owned public financing. Now, before you start moaning and whining that you do not want your money going to a candidate that you do not support, think for a minute about how candidates get a lot of their support. For instance, in our state legislature, a candidate who is not even challenged for their seat can raise millions of dollars. Since they do not need to stage a big campaign, they can share the money with other candidates who, if they win, will then be indebted to go along with Mr. Big Wheel Legislator who gave them campaign funds.
When a candidate has to worry about raising money instead of serving the public, then that candidate is not working for us. In voter-owned public financing, the money is given to a candidate to run based on how many small donations they receive. They have to agree not to accept large donations, and they have to agree to strict rules. This really can level the playing field and get more people of high integrity into the game.
For example, here is a scenario that could play out: Mr. Slummy Lord gives a lot of money to Mr. Big Wheel Legislator, who then spreads it around. Then Mr. Slummy Lord decides that he wants the minimum housing rules changed in North Carolina. So Mr. Big Wheel Legislator makes a few calls, and all those to whom the money has been spread kneel at the feet of Mr. Big Wheel Legislator, and Mr. Slummy Lord has the wheels greased.
If selfish agendas like these are to be avoided, voter-owned public financing is the answer. We need positive electoral changes in North Carolina. For too long, Mr. Big Wheel Legislator has almost dictated who gets what and when and that is not democracy — that is pay-to-play politics, and the results are not good. At least, they’re not good for us.
The pay-to-play system thrives when honorable candidates do not run because of the excessive expense of campaigns. In voter-owned public financing, the excessive expense is greatly reduced. In reality, I would rather a little of my money go to an honest candidate with whom I have great political disagreement than a lot of money being raised by a dishonest or disreputable candidate with whom I wholeheartedly agree politically.
Personal moral strength is comparable to that fresh yellow hook necked squash in fritters. Without it, a candidate cannot provide good results for us. But the public is going to have to demand change before it can occur. Just look at the stories surrounding Mike Easley, Jim Black, Ruffin Poole, and Tony Rand. Even with all of those politicians exposed, the legislature is still dragging its feet on real ethics reform. It is time to speak up and speak out. Contact Senator Basnight and Senator Nesbitt and tell them to fix it so decency and integrity is restored to the election process in North Carolina. Then tell your local officials that you want our community to participate.
After all, yellow hook-neck squash is in season.
For those who want the recipe for squash fritters:
It may take a little practice to get the consistency correct, so that you only have to turn them once.