Because campaign finance laws require compulsory disclosure of contributions, Honolulu voters could have known before the last elections, if only they had paid attention, that Mr Caldwell and Mr Martin were heavily funded by development interests.  So voters might have suspected, for example, that the scurrilous attacks on Cayento, funded by and for developers in Mr Caldwell's camp, were suspect.  But Honolulu bought the "rail, on time and on budget" nonsense.  And now they are paying the piper.

Yes, some campaign finance reform might help.  But what we really need is an electorate that gets informed and insists on integrity.  And if voters, having made reasoned judgment about who is talking straight instead of babbling "talking points," were to send their favored candidate a few campaign bucks solely out of appreciation for their honesty, then the developers, the Soros, the Koches, the unions and corporations might find their money doesn't buy our government.  Get engaged, people.