Regarding Eric Dyer's March 14 article, "Easley may get lottery chance":
In this story, state Rep. Pricey Harrison is quoted as saying, "There's nothing I like about the lottery. I hate it."
Am I wrong, or is the job of the state representatives to represent the people of the state and to do what the majority of the people want?
Rep. Maggie Jeffus says she would have "to see how the numbers fall out, to see if the majority of the people want it."
Maybe she doesn't talk to the people in her district.
The same article reports that two-thirds of the people want a lottery. Wouldn't $450 million to $500 million help our schools a lot, or do we let our neighboring states continue to get the money we invest in their lottery?
Delbert Kocher
Greensboro
Comments (8)
"Am I wrong, or is the job of the state representatives to represent the people of the state and to do what the majority of the people want?"
Yes, you're wrong. It is the job of state representatives to secure our rights. Not to execute tyranny of the majority.
Posted by Rusty Sheridan | March 24, 2005 7:05 AM
Rusty is right. Also, it makes more sense to say that the job of the state representative is to represent the people in his district (especially the ones that voted for him), not the majority of people in the state.
Another point, if you asked the majority of the people in North Carolina if they wanted to pay any state income tax, guess what they would say?
Posted by mr t | March 24, 2005 8:50 AM
Oops. Forgive me for implying that state representatives were all male in my post above.
Posted by mr t | March 24, 2005 8:51 AM
Here, here Rusty! Well stated and absolutely correct. Our system of government is not, never has been, and hopefully never will be a mob rules system.
Posted by Bob | March 24, 2005 9:17 AM
But doesn't a lottery make sense? We need money to go into our schools somehow. Either that, or let's raise some taxes so we can better educate the kids.
Posted by Brian Harper | March 24, 2005 12:48 PM
I'm all for lotteries/raffles/gambling. If people want to do it, do it. I just don't want government getting involved. They muck up everything they touch.
Posted by Rusty Sheridan | March 24, 2005 3:21 PM
$450 to $500 million go to schools? whatever u could give schools 1 billoin and there would still be classes in trailers. i thought the food tax (Terrys Tax) put in place in the 1950s was to pay for schools then go away. why should i believe a lying politician saying the lotto proceedes would go to schools? just tell the truth and say it will go into the general fund.
Posted by anderson york | March 24, 2005 9:07 PM
Millions more to educate kids? Come on if we did that they'd be smart enough not to play the lottery! Then where would we be?
Posted by Brian S | March 25, 2005 11:30 PM