To the Editor:

There you are, governor of North Carolina, and somebody pushes a stack of papers in front of you that says who can go into which bathroom. And it says that a certain group of people can’t sue for discrimination. And it also says that cities can’t write more generous rules than these.

There’s a blank line at the bottom of the page, awaiting your signature.

At this point, an ordinary person with just the tiniest sense of caution would consider what he was about to sign. They would ask themselves a sequence of well-reasoned questions.

“Is there a problem with bathrooms in North Carolina?” Answer: Never heard of any.

“Have women and children been assaulted by men pretending to be women?” Answer: No.

“Is this law in conflict with any federal law?” Answer: Absolutely.

“Will this law make us the laughing stock of the nation?” Answer: Beyond a shadow of a doubt.

“Will this law harm business in North Carolina?” Answer: By the billions of dollars.

“Will this law cost the state jobs?” Answer: Thousands.  

“Will this law cause foreign countries to shun North Carolina?” Answer: Almost instantly.

“Will this law harm this state in any other way?” Answer: Loss of federal funds for schools.

“Will this law make me look like an idiot?” Answer: You got it.

“Will this law cost me the next election?”  Answer: Very likely.

Now, if you are the governor, having asked yourself these questions, do you put your signature on the blank line at the bottom of the page?  

Rick Bryson

Bryson City