News-Record.com

Speaking of Georgia and gas, I heard that the governor in Georgia has suspended the gasoline tax during this difficult period to ease the burden on taxpayers. You would think that our governor could do the same since North Carolinians pay an extraordinarily high gasoline tax anyway, but I doubt that this government ever thinks about how it can help taxpayers.

Charles, most of the polls I have seen have said that 65 to 70% of North Carolinians support a lottery, and that is clearly a majority. I fail to see where "these thugs in Raleigh" have done anything "without the will of the people". To keep the money in this state that goes to other state's lottery's can only be a positive.

In hindsight, NC establishing a lottery was a brilliant gasoline conservation effort. Just think of all the gallons that will be conserved by people not driving to Virginia and South Carolina for tickets.

Hugh,

LOL!

Can't tell you how disappointed I am that NC has joined the rest of the world in the lottery game. Just think, for the very first time people will gamble in NC!! Shameful. We will now probably have betting on the golf course, in the pool room, football pools, World Series pools and, horrors, even nickle and dime card games going on in someone's garage. Could go as high as a dollar or two. Truly a dark day for NC as all these new games come our way.

"In hindsight, NC establishing a lottery was a brilliant gasoline conservation effort. Just think of all the gallons that will be conserved by people not driving to Virginia and South Carolina for tickets."

Drumroll: Ba-da-BUM!

Charles, It is not the responsibility of the state to save people from themselves. That is the responsibility of the individual.

Less government, more personal responsibility!

Thank-you, Thank-you, I'll be here all week!

Arnold,
Most people would like a TAX CUT. Has that happen. I do gamble ( golf) made $2.25 today. However to pass a lottery as education lottery in my opinion is just flat wrong. If they want a lottery and I agree most people wanted it, the money should have gone in the general fund. Before I get stomped and I know it is coming, my wife and myself have been fighting for better schools,since we moved to NC in 1963. The money from the lottery will replace over time, what has been funded by taxes. I know a man that worked his butt off to get a lottery in Va, he says now I was wrong. If it had been wide spread reported,Basnight wanted to use money from the lottery to fund a tax cut for his rich friends. NR and record is these a true fact. I think this reported in the NR.

It is obvious that the majority of people in North Carolina support the lottery. All I have to do is remember all the times I knew people that go to Va everytime the lottery payoff gets high there. As for the "thugs" the real "thugs" here are the religious power hungry moguls (think Pat Robertson) who have so many people scared to death stand up to them in public. Ironically, these are the same people that, should a member of their church win the lottery will be knocking on those lucky winner's door looking for a handout. Funny how "Satan's money" all of a sudden becomes "God's money"
Steve

I just read the article "N.C. gets into lottery racket with shady vote." I would like to respond to this by first stating after years and years of elected leaders refusing to allow the voters to have an election on a lottery, now we hear from the nay sayers who oppose a lottery but realize it is a soon to be reality. I think we should have been the first state in the south to have voted and passed a lottery. With all the financial problems North Carolina has experienced over the years doesn't it make sense to join Virginia, Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee in operating a lottery? I wonder if this kind of negative attitude reared it's ugly head in those states that passed a lottery before us? Did they write comments about shady votes? I bet if we had been allowed a vote, the lottery would have passed overwhelmingly. But after years and years a way presented itself to allow a lottery. If a lottery is such a bad thing why have the 41 other states not ceased operations? If a state can vote a lottery in it surely could vote one out the same way. I for one am tired of building schools in Virginia, Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee. It's time we spend the money HERE! North Carolina has been the most hypocritical state for years in that Harrah's operates on the Cherokee Reservation in Western North Carolina for all to GAMBLE at, but a lottery has been like pulling teeth to get here in North Carolina! North Carolina is bigger than any two of the surrounding states that operate lotteries and I for one am glad that FINALLY WE HAVE A LOTTERY IN THIS STATE!!! Now please enough already with how the lottery was approved. It is not the first time and won't be the last time a vote takes place by other than NORMAL circumstances. Thank you all who made it possible for us to play the NORTH CAROLINA EDUCATION LOTTERY. See it even has a nice ring to it.

Sincerely,

Richard Garrison

Morganton, NC

Richard,
I am one of those against the lottery.
However I agree its time to put this to bed, it is a done deal.

Thugs in Raleigh.. LOL.
I called them fartknockers for many years.
I like the term thugs better, except, well....
I respect a thug more than a fartknocker.
At least you know where a thug is coming from....