I’d like to, once again, express my deep appreciation to the Cary Chamber of Commerce for inviting me to be part of the N.C. Senate candidates form at their breakfast event this morning. None of the District 17 candidates showed up, but all three of us for District 16 were there to answer questions and meet the businesspeople of Cary.

The questions were, as expected, focused on business, with one exception being on the state of schools in Wake County (amidst the current controversies). I’ll make another post later touching on the education question. In the meantime, here are some of my post-forum thoughts on the business questions:

* Only business knows what’s good for business. As a legislator, I’m not going to tell you what’s best for your business. In fact, unless your business is violating the rights of others by a way you can prove in court, I’m going to leave you alone. The government needs to take the stance of “how can we best stay out of the way so you can do your thing” rather than “how can we best try to control your business.”

* The current General Assembly loves to talk about gambling. The problem is that they think that they can outlaw all forms of gambling except what they sponsor themselves. I’m not talking just about the education lottery, whose funds have been raided to pay for other projects against the lottery’s promised intent. I’m talking about the gambling the Legislative and Executive branches do with regards to business growth in NC. Instead of making an equal playing field for all businesses, they hedge their bets on select businesses and industries. This creates false incentives to start and grow a business. A smart business would be operating based on its economic viability and sustainability, not based on promises and incentives that are at the whims of elected officials. The only way to create lasting growth and lasting jobs is for government to make it easier for *everyone* to do business.

* There is inter-dependability in commercial infrastructure. A convenience store is successful because it’s on a busy corner, the corner is busy because there’s a shopping mall there,  the shopping mall is successful because of new home construction in the area, and the home construction is booming because of a new factory that opened a couple of miles away. Incentives and regulation focused on any single part of that chain throws off the balance. Good or bad, it’s still intrusive and potentially disruptive.

* We need to stop thinking of our General Assembly as a retirement community. We need anyone who is constitutionally qualified to run for office able not only to run, but also to serve in tandem with their own full-time employment. I’ve been laid off a couple of times due to economic strains on the businesses where I worked, but I’m taking the chance of having to quit temporarily in order to serve in the GA. Not everyone has the family budget to take those chances, though. We need to put some options on the table that make the part-time work of being a Senator or Representative something that the average person can do without fearing for his/her job. (Naturally, I would start with shorter sessions. ;-) )