RALEIGH – I was asked recently at a reporters’ roundtable why I became a political reporter.

I started my off-the-cuff answer with, “I’d rather be covering sports.” I’ve always been a sports fan, supporting Cleveland teams, and I’ve become a fan of the Carolina Hurricanes since moving to North Carolina about 15 years ago.

So writing about sports would be enjoyable and more in line with my personal interests.

I continued my answer by saying that I witness ridiculous and hypocritical actions or comments every day in the world of politics. That has – at times – led me and others in similar positions – to become increasingly cynical about the political and legislative processes. It’s the reason for the so-called “FUBAR Meter” in the General Assembly press room that gauges just how messed up things are in the legislature at any point in time.

There’s the legislator who spent $19,000 in campaign funds on clothes in six months. There’s the state lawmaker who purchased fuel 427 times in two years, charging more than $28,000 on his campaign debit card, according to campaign finance reports.

And there’s the former House member who just reported to jail to serve a two-year sentence after being convicted of stealing money from a federally funded rural development organization he founded. And the state senator whose questionable spending of campaign dollars has been referred to prosecutors by the state Board of Elections, yet who continues to serve in the General Assembly today.

Then there’s the fact that the state doesn’t have a budget two months into the fiscal year. And the fact that a multi-billionaire with a big mouth and no political experience can lead the polls for the Republican nomination for president of the United States and that the possible Democratic nominee has political experience but plenty of baggage to go with it.

Then there’s Deez Nuts, the nickname of a 15-year-old Iowa kid who signed up to run for president (even though he’s not even close to old enough), then received 9 percent in a recent Public Policy Polling poll for president in North Carolina. Republican Trump received 40 percent, to 38 percent for Democrat Hillary Clinton.

I could go on and on and on. There should be little doubt as to why the general public is so sour on politics and politicians these days. Imagine how those who follow this stuff daily feel. It’s kind of like the cops reporter who becomes afraid to drive because they cover so many bad car crashes.

That said, I do fully understand the importance of politics in our society and the importance of government decisions in Washington, Raleigh and counties and cities across the state to our collective well-being.

Politicians decide how much to tax, how much to spend and what to spend it on, such as education, transportation, health and human services, environmental protection and public safety. The vast changes made to the tax code, voting laws, regulatory climate and social issues since the Republicans took over the General Assembly a few years ago should be evidence enough of the importance of politics, whether you agree with the changes or not.

During a resignation speech on the House floor last week, Rep. Rick Glazier, a Fayetteville Democrat, gave his take on why elected officials go into that line of work.

Legislators, he said, serve to contribute to the governing of society, without which “hunger and homelessness and disease and illiteracy and poverty” would result. “It is the goal and ought to be of every member of this body to alleviate human suffering wherever possible,” Glazier told his House colleagues.

So why then do government and politics have to be so bizarre and corrupt at times? While that does make it more fun to cover as a reporter, it also makes it that much more difficult for the general public to really care.

That should change, and that’s part of why I cover politics.

Patrick Gannon writes columns for Capitol Press Association.