Scorecard - The Dell refund, Newt and Oklahoma

Scorecard gives a ranking of from one to 10 on an event in the news, with 10 being the most favorable rating. We invite you to email us with people or events you'd like scored at letters@wsjournal.com with "Scorecard" in the subject line. We include in this feature input from an email panel culled from our local sources .

This week's Scorecard looks at three events. Here they come:

•Forsyth commissioners voting 5-2 to put the county's $7.9 million Dell refund to economic development.

Scorecard participants split on this one, with some giving the vote ranks of from two to five, noting their weariness with incentives. But most panel members gave the vote ranks of from seven to 10. "You must spend money to make money," wrote Jim Monroe, who gave the vote a 10. "Debra Conrad has it right. New industries are the base for economic growth."

We agree. Commissioners had debated for months what to do with the incentive money Dell returned after it announced in late 2009 it would close its desktop-computer plant. Some commissioners argued that, in these tight economic times, the money should be put into the county's general fund. But we repeatedly argued on this page that the money should go back into the push to lure more companies and jobs so that the county can work toward an economic turnaround. As Commissioner Debra Conrad told the Journal's Wesley Young before Monday's hearing on the matter, putting the money in the general fund to relieve a tight budget is a bad idea.

"This is a prime opportunity to keep it as incentive money so we don't have to worry about what to do if anything else like Caterpillar comes along," she said. "You can't solve financial problems with one-time money. You have to solve them with permanent solutions and not temporary solutions."

Bravo. We often disagree on this page with Conrad and her fellow conservative Republican, Richard Linville. But in this instance, they were spot-on to break with their fellow conservatives and join moderate Republican Dave Plyler and the Democratic minority in putting the money toward economic development. We give the vote a 10.

•Republican Newt Gingrich announces his candidacy for president.

OK, to our panel's credit, most kept a straight face in responding to this event. A few even gave the news ranks of seven and eight, saying that the one-time House speaker is a bright guy. Buddy Collins, who gave the news an eight, wrote that Gingrich "will be the smartest man never to be elected president."

But most gave the news ranks from zero to five. Clint Johnson, who gave it a five, wrote: "The GOP structure always seems to get behind someone who says, 'Now it is my turn to run for president.' The Democrats ignored that election plan in 2008 when it nominated little-experienced Obama. I don't see why the GOP can't generate the same type of excitement behind someone like Herman Cain, Allen West or Michele Bachmann, who all have newer ideas than petulant and already-been-there Gingrich."

Anne Wilson, who gave the news a zero and called Gingrich's candidacy "totally tasteless," asked: "Why would anyone want to elect as president a man who divorced his dying wife? Would this not be a sign unto us of what kind of leader he would be? Insensitive and heartless at best."

And boring. At least Donald Trump was inadvertently funny. We give Newt's announcement a zero.

•The UNC School of the Arts wraps up a successful "Oklahoma!" run, with UNC-TV filming the play to air on its channel.

The Scorecard panel agreed on this one. Most gave it ranks of from eight to 10. Anne Wilson, who gave it a 10, wrote: "What an excellent way to share the value of one of NC's hidden jewels. I would love to think this would be the beginning of a new partnership with UNC-TV. UNCSA has much to offer that should be shared with folks across the state who otherwise are unable to attend performances. UNCSA is a treasure trove that deserves to be shared broadly. I believe such would yield dividends."

We agree. The school is a crucial component of The City of Arts and Innovation, one that enriches our culture, keeps us on the map and brings in business. And the school did it up right with its production of "Oklahoma!" the classic Broadway musical that opened in the 1940s. We give it a 10 as well. "Oklahoma, where the wind comes sweeping down the plain!"