Ron Hewett: Lack of integrity legalized

The Aug. 13 news article “No wrongdoing found as probe of state contracts ends” reminded me of the arguments made by former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell during his fraud trial. He admitted his actions “may have been questionable, but nonetheless they were not illegal.”

As in the McDonnell case, federal prosecutors verified for us again that the type of behavior demonstrated by the DHHS was not only legal, but perfectly normal within our current political system. What a sad state of affairs.

Influence peddlers at the highest level of state government now have another judgment that verifies their lack of integrity is the acceptable norm for doing business with our state – all at the expense of the taxpayer.

If we are to have any hope of good government, then it will have to come from whom we elect to office and their holding themselves to a high standard of integrity.

At a minimum, they should ask whether it passes the smell test. In this case, I think North Carolinians have been let down.

This story was originally published August 15, 2016 at 4:53 PM with the headline "Ron Hewett: Lack of integrity legalized."