What a concept, a voluntary tax. One doesn't buy a lottery ticket unless he or she wants to, and the proceeds go to education.
I can't think of a better arrangement, and I strongly object to our local government telling us what is good or bad for us.
If government thinks that "the poor" need to be protected from themselves, check consumers' income tax W-2s when selling cigarettes and alcohol.
That would be equally absurd.
Alan Weidt
Greensboro
Comments (10)
Mr. Weidt,
Other state governments have been INCOMPETENT with the use of lottery funds. Let's not tempt our own to TWIST THE KNIFE with misappropriated spending. It seems the only way to stay out of the HOT-TUB is to STAVE-off TROUBLE before the deck dinner party. REAL MEN don't need a lottery.
Posted by steve | April 13, 2005 5:34 AM
Real men don't need a lottery? What kind of comment is that? Perhaps Steve doesn't feel he could handle the temptation a lottery would give him. A lottery would offer NOTHING BUT GOOD to the state of NC. So other states misappropriate funds from the lottery. And NC doesn't misappropriate funds from red light cameras??? Every state has it's downfalls in one way or another. A lottery is not a fix-all. But it is a game that I should have the opportunity to play without going out of state. Let's not forget that casino gambling is already legal in NC. Ever heard of Cherokee? What's the difference?
Posted by Tony | April 13, 2005 8:56 AM
Tony,
In theory, there is no difference. In reality, the Cherokee Indian Reservation is Federal land. In addition, there is no difference in the lottery and bingo, which is also legal in North Carolina.
As for misuse of funds, Steve, we can learn from all of the other states that already have a track record with a lottery. One example is Georgia, where $188 million was transferred to their Educational Account in the first quarter of Fiscal year 2005. That brings the total to over $7 billion since the lottery's inception. (Source: www.galottery.com).
If that's misuse, I wonder how much can be raised if North Carolina does it right.
Posted by Mad Dog | April 13, 2005 9:13 AM
And what percentage of the revenues is that, Mad Dog? Funny you'd leave that out.
Posted by mr t | April 13, 2005 10:21 AM
Mad Dog, I like your figures and your reasoning. This issue does not have to be the lose-lose proposition that many would have us believe. Where money is concerned for our schools, I think some is better than none.
Posted by Yvonne | April 13, 2005 10:34 AM
mr t,
I didn't leave out the percentages on purpose. I don't know what the % is because I don't really care what the % is. If you want to squabble over %, I cited the source, www.galottery.com so you can check it out yourself.
My interest is in spendable dollars, regardless of the %. And $188 million and $7 billion are A LOT of spendable dollars.
Posted by Mad Dog | April 13, 2005 11:53 AM
Mad Dog,
Didn't mean to pick on you. I just saw this discussed last week and I think the number was 25% of the money made it to schools. I happen to think that IS an issue. If you gave to a charity, wouldn't you expect more than 25% of your funds to make it to the people in need?
Posted by mr t | April 13, 2005 2:10 PM
mr t,
The last breakdown I saw was that of the lottery revenue, 50% was for prizes & payouts, 16% was administrative costs, and the remainder of 34% went to education. The estimate was about $450 million for the 34%. Of that $450 million, 50% was for school construction, 25% for scholarships, and 25% for other educational programs (kindergarten, etc.).
I can only say that 100% of nothing is nothing and 16% of something appears to be around $450 million.
These are hard questions and it doesn't hurt my feelings to put them on the table for discussion.
Posted by Mad Dog | April 13, 2005 2:41 PM
I think it aids discussion immensely to know that number 16%. I think it clears up a muddied picture. I'd expect something similar here once the dust settles.
Posted by mr t | April 13, 2005 3:40 PM
It's a whole lot better than our taxes going up 16%.
Posted by Inkslinger336 | April 13, 2005 5:01 PM