Who Says Substance Doesn't Count?

Throughout the campaign I've raised the question about how relevant our efforts to raise substantive questions and address policy issues really are in this election. Well today, I made Under the Dome for winning the gubernatorial candidates' NCAA bracket challenge. Coming in a distant second was the Lt. Governor who undoubtedly will claim in a press release that she actually won.

Unfortunately our most recent effort to raise the level of debate in the campaign and actually offer real thought provoking solutions hasn't received near as much notoriety as my prognosticating powers. About two weeks ago we released our Vision 20/20 economic development plan with a press conference attended by one member of the media. Press releases were sent out to editorial writers and reporters and the response was deafening silence.

Ok, so we only proposed spending $20 billion between now and the year 2020 on expanded loans to small businesses; angel fund investments to help spark entrepreneurs in developing fields (particularly needed in rural areas of NC); and major commitments of funding to our universities and community colleges for additional doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals. A modest proposal perhaps but when you consider that none of the other GOP candidates for governor have any kind of economic development plan then maybe this one deserves a little attention.

And the flip side of this proposal is that if we would invest the money being given away in targeted tax incentives, the state wouldn't even have to go looking for the money to fund the proposal. I can't figure whether the proposal is too complicated; too simple; too unrealistic; too obvious; or just too much trouble to have to do a story on it.

So next time someone complains about a lack of substance in political campaigns just explain to them about what's really important. We all know that a candidate's ability to navigate the treacherous waters of the NCAA basketball tournament is the real test of leadership skills and creative thinking. But alas, I did pick my beloved Heels to win it all.