Review of Candidate Forum for NC Senate and House | Eastern North Carolina Now

    I enjoyed the Thursday opportunity to hear from all but one of the candidates for NC House and Senate. I hate that Mr. White could not be present due to a commitment already made. Bill Cook was the only one of the 2 Senate candidates. However, Mr. White had a letter for us asking for support. It was the only part that was totally short. I might vote for him over "brevity"!

    First, I noted the clear evidence of the Democrat vs. Republican outlook. In short, incumbents (4) who are Republican (3) / Democrat (1) expressed their delight over legislation and influence over the last few years. Each of us can decide which philosophy of government has produced results.

    Mr. Speciale and Mr. Cook both said that in front of the cameras the debate is heated and divisive. Then the legislators go out the door talking with much less animosity. Also the "hall comment" was made that much of the campaigns focus on Presidential disagreement, even though that is a Washington matter. In NC, we can't seem to stay away from national angst.

    I just wish we could focus more on NC matters rather than be distracted with national politics.

    What I like most is my second observation: All the candidates are focusing on their agenda and refuse to put out a negative campaign. Paul Time (D) was most appealing on his assertion about a hate-free campaign. Mattie Lawson (R), his opponent, expressed her gratitude for such an outlook.

    My father, an astute observer of most things human, told me long ago, "Son, you aren't so much electing a person as you are a Party. Republicans tend to favor the rich and Democrats the common working man." I think he was totally right in this analysis!

    Another interesting thing was --- how few people were present over the previous meeting for all the Sheriff and Court Candidates. There were more of them so you would expect a bigger crowd. The auditorium was full for the first meeting. The Thursday meeting had about a 30% capacity in comparison. The format was similar with candidates making an initial general short speech then taking questions the attendees wrote before it started.

    A time limit of 3 minutes for each put much pressure to get to the point. It worked well, in my view. I like the way we do our business in Beaufort County. At the core we have candidates all wanting to do their best to serve their public. Their pay for representation is minimal compared to the national picture of Congress granting themselves nice incomes and benefits far above their constituents. All the candidates are trying their best to reflect what constituents think in a divisive and complex political atmosphere we have these days.

    An observation about divisiveness was made that "legislators represent the divided nature of the US and Beaufort County voters." In other words, "we need to blame ourselves!"

    I think we all need to be INSPIRED by Legislators who, once elected, put down their weapons and do something constructive and wise to do good things with our money for all of us. One candidate even said he would be happy if there were no income taxes! Actually he was citing the initial concept of Income Tax that was formed as a "temporary tax" to pay the costs of WWI. We all know how "temporary" has become mandatory and harshly imposed by the IRS and NC State Tax folks. The enforcers are just doing their job, but taxpayers feel somewhat "run over."

    When President Franklin Roosevelt had a 4th term, Congress installed an Amendment for the President that no person gets more than 2 terms in office. It was adopted over a period of some 6 years of divisive debate. I think we need Term Limits for the Congress now and, possibly, the Supreme Court. As old Mark Twain quipped: "Government officials, like diapers, need changing often---and for the same reason."

    Will Congress have the guts and wisdom to impose limits on themselves????

    The Founding Fathers viewed representation as a SERVICE by people who had such local respect and enough business success to go at their own expense to Washington or Raleigh. Most people cannot take off on their own dollar for longer than 2 terms in office. That, by itself, is a limiting factor and motivator to "get on with the business of legislation."

    My question is "Why do we need so much excess law which gives so many lawyers an opportunity to debate the details as it applies to their client (who is always their source of income and they are the spokesperson with a law degree). The longer billable hours accrue, the richer this profession becomes!

    In closing--- I shall share with you another observation of my caring and wise father. He was in a personal debate over how he could help people the most. He got his "calling to help" as he plowed his mule in a field of the Tenant Farm. He bowed down in the field and prayed: "I don't know what you want me to do, God, but lead me to help people the most I can." He hitch-hiked his way from near Athens, GA, to Macon---where Mercer University resided. He worked his way through the 4 years it took.

    His first dilemma was: "Preacher or Lawyer." Mercer was the best in GA for either profession. My father first signed up for the initial Law course. He had bought his books and sat down for the first lecture. The Professor entered and all got silent. He began his lecture at the blackboard and said, "I am going to write the 3 basic rules for success in Law."

    On that big blackboard he wrote: (1) Get your retainer. Under that he wrote: (2) Get your retainer. His final line was: (3) Same as (1) and (2)! My father left and traded his course for the introduction to Religion. He said, "I wanted to really help people and law was all about money and wealth!"

    Is this, perhaps, our problem today after 200+ years of being a "nation of laws and freedom?" There is a balance point between law and freedom. The Founders of this nation were inundated with laws and feeling there was a serious loss of freedom and diversity in the Old World. They somehow "knew" there was something better to be had---even if a dangerous and stressful sea voyage in a wooden sailing ship was the price to be paid!

    Has the financial success of America led us to the brink of trying to control the world --- at greater expense than taxes can balance? Russia went under economically from their pursuit of a military approach to population control and consolidation.

    It could happen to us if we keep our path of law and money mixed up. It make us the slaves of tax and expensive legal representation bound to come with all the new legislation!

    If you are lost in the wilderness, the first step is to find out where you ARE so you can go to WHERE YOU WANT TO END UP.