What does a lottery say to our children?
Regarding the column, "Not all teachers want the state lottery" (Counterpoint, May 7):
This writer has a valid point. Are we teaching our children a get-rich scheme? Are we saying to them that if we get the lottery, this is our way out? Don't educate yourself or make a name in our society the right way?
Politicians should stand up and put money where it counts, not in another bank building, not another skyscraper. Let's build more schools. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that babies are being born every day. Two certainties in life are living and dying. We need more schools and more money to pay teachers and teacher assistants, who work in many instances harder than the teacher. That's where the money needs to be placed. We need to value our values, if they are values that one can be happy with.
Let's consider the lottery if we use the money for the right things. Let's put things in their proper place. If it's going to help rather than hurt, let's do it. If it's broken, let's fix it and fix it properly.
Sherry L. Walker
Browns Summit
Comments (5)
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Personally I think there are way too many people using our children to support AND oppose a lottery.
Posted on May 10, 2005 9:41 AM
In a recent post, I opined that the lottery money would not increase spending for education, but would merely replace funds taken away for other purposes. Senate leaders have not disappointed me. The W-S Journal recently quoted one senator as saying more than $50 million of the lottery revenue would be used to fund the corporate tax reduction. The $50 million of lottery money earmarked for school construction replaces corporate tax revenue currently used for that purpose. But don't take my word for it:
Senate leaders say reducing the corporate and higher-income taxes will make North Carolina more attractive to businesses looking to expand or relocate.
"It's the economy, jobs and education that we are working hard on for the people of North Carolina," said state Sen. Kay Hagan, a Greensboro Democrat and an appropriations co-chairwoman.
The News and Observer
May 3, 2005
Local school districts would lose construction money that's earmarked from the corporate income tax targeted for elimination. In exchange, the districts would get to divvy up $70 million in lottery proceeds in fiscal year 2006 and $150 million in 2007 for construction debt.
AP
May 5, 2005
Posted on May 10, 2005 10:27 AM
If the people of North Carolina put their highest priority on educating their children, then why are we talking about gambling with their future? I would think we would want to guarantee education quality, along with health care, justice, and safety. Let's use lottery revenues to fund equally risky state ventures like corporate subsidies or hurricane relief.
Posted on May 10, 2005 11:25 AM
I have stated before that if the North Carolina Legislators do not state in their bill what the lottery will be used for, then Allen is correct in that the money can be spent for whatever. That is why it is imperative that the restrictions be stated in the Lottery Bill. The state of Georgia has restrictions in their bill as well as in their state constitution. That is why their lottery has been so successful and has generated over $7 billion for education since its inception. Source: www.galottery.com
Posted on May 10, 2005 11:55 AM
Yvonne, the only reason children are mentioned in regards to the lottery is because the legislators are using them as pawns in their scheme to seperate more people from more of their money. They are a bunch of arrogant aristocrats, but we deserve what we elect.
Posted on May 11, 2005 11:31 AM