Opinion Roundup: July 27, 2016 -- HB2, Trump, judicial ballots and roads

Millions flushed by governor, legislature (Mount Airy News column) -- The truth is HB2 was a law passed in hopes of mobilizing the social conservatives in the 2016 election. However, as the impact of the law becomes more evident, those who see the economic destruction the bill is causing may outnumber the folks who think the entire world ought to live by their chosen set of “values.” Gov. Pat McCrory’s answer was to attack the NBA, but I would applaud the league. League leaders followed their values, just as McCrory claims to have done. In contrast to McCrory’s “values,” the NBA’s values take the high road, truly valuing people for who they are and accepting folks who differ from society’s “norm.”

Trump’s visit (Winston-Salem Journal) -- The long line of local citizens standing for hours in the scorching heat Monday reveal the enthusiasm much of the public feels for Republican presidential candidate Donald J. Trump — even if a few did show up to the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds Annex more for the spectacle than to lend support.

N.C. Court of Appeals ballot not very appealing (Greenville Daily Reflector) -- Sometimes the worst corruption doesn’t happen when laws are broken, but when they are made. Case in point: Court of Appeals races are supposed to be nonpartisan, in that parties don’t nominate judges. But legislation, passed along party lines by the Republican majority in the General Assembly last year, now requires party affiliations of Court of Appeals candidates to be listed on ballots this year. With that preliminary work taken care of, Senate Bill 667, ratified July 1 by the General Assembly, then changed the ballot order for state Court of Appeals candidates (only), bringing that court’s candidates into the system that governs ballot order for elections.

Why the first name on the ballot often wins (NPR) -- Presidential elections draw lots of attention, but voters also have to make lots of less familiar choices. The order in which their names are listed on the ballot can help candidates, a study shows.

Roadwork isn't sexy, but it's necessary (Rocky Mount Telegram) -- With gasoline prices still floating slightly above $2 a gallon in North Carolina, it’s a great summer for driving east or west for vacation. And, of course, the pump prices are even lower if you head to South Carolina – just brace yourself. That ride is a little bumpy. The trade-off for having one of the lowest gasoline taxes in the country is the condition of even major roads like Interstates 95 and 85. Head south of our border and you can feel the difference quickly.

Stand with the cities (Greensboro News & Record) -- The National League of Cities “stands with Charlotte,” the organization said Monday, as it reaffirmed its plan to hold a 2017 fall conference there. Its executive committee also adopted a resolution strongly condemning North Carolina for enacting the anti-LGBT House Bill 2. But it won’t hold Charlotte responsible.