For the most part, North Carolina's legislature is composed of decent people trying to do the right thing. The public has never understood or trusted the legislative process. Most important decisions are made in closed-door negotiations. Legislating is filled with compromises between competing regions, parties, philosophies and interests. It is often said that it takes a legislator six years before he or she understands the arcane process.
Many people see the legislature as a giant auction, where lawmakers are sold to the highest bidder.
This is a cynical view. Though the role of big money in political campaigns is worrisome, contributions tend to follow the votes, not the reverse. Serving in the legislature is increasingly onerous. Sessions are getting longer because of the increased complexity of the issues, the growing partisanship, and the more democratic, inclusive styles of leadership. Because of the financial sacrifices it takes to serve, more lawmakers are being drawn from the ranks of the retired, the wealthy or homemakers.