Republicans are always talking about running government like a business. Now, we’re getting a good look at what that means. Investors make out like bandits, management reaps benefits, and workers get screwed.
In political campaigns, candidates often ask donors to invest in their campaigns. Governor Pat McCrory took that quite literally and so did his contributor Graeme Keith. When Keith donated to McCrory, he clearly expected a return on that investment. When his investment wasn’t yielding a high enough return, he complained to the CEO, otherwise known as the Governor. Always ready to keep his shareholders happy, McCrory convened a meeting of executives and overruled one of his vice-presidents, otherwise known as a cabinet secretary, in order to make sure Keith stayed happy. Keith got a $3 million contract in return for his $12,000 investment. Not bad.
I wonder who bid against Keith for his contract to provide prison maintenance? Keith said he had been working on it for years. Was it a no-bid contract or were there other players vying for gig? If others were in competition to provide the services, did they also donate to McCrory? If so, how much and was Keith the highest bidder? Inquiring minds want to know.
Over at the University, the upper management got huge pay increases while the worker bees, also known as faculty and staff, got a one-time bonus of $750. That’s also in keeping with modern Republican business principles. Management is good and deserving while the workforce is little more than whining overhead. The goal of a good business is to get as much out of the workforce for as little money as possible. Any benefits should go to the management whose smart and savvy decisions have made the business so successful.
Under the GOP we’re getting a good look at what it means to run government like a business. Management and shareholders (donors) do very well; workers, not so much. Business people meet behind closed doors to cut deals with unfettered access to the governor. Like in business, who you know is often more important than what you know. In North Carolina, if you know the governor, you can do quite well.
Thomas Mills is the founder and publisher of PoliticsNC.com. Before beginning PoliticsNC, Thomas spent twenty years as a political and public affairs consultant. Learn more >
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