Since at it's institution the amendment that would have forced all "education lottery" profits to actually be spent on funding educational needs failed, I can only view pronouncements such as those of Ms. Garland with an overwhelming sense of skepticism.

To me it is little more than a money shuffling scheme.

Feel free to participate, and if you do so I sincerely hope you win big, but count me out of joining in at the party.

janherman,

I agree. There's just something that hits me wrong when high-level administrators write in letters like this supporting their own program.

The lottery is not good for the average North Carolina consumer, in my opinion. The majority of lottery players are losers. That takes money that could be spent on something constructive and gives it to our government who's fiscal record is mediocre at best.

I'll always feel that the lottery is little more than a regressive tax. Those with the least to waste on such folly are generally the most desperate to win.

Having said all that, I must admit to purchasing one lottery ticket. Next year, I'll probably purchase another one.

Buy your tickets early and often. Remember, "It's for the Children". Any time you hear that line, you better hold on tightly to your wallet. Someone wants to lighten it.

The lottery is a voluntary tax, at least we have one that if voluntary, so I support it in that regard.

Dan,

I agree and am thankful for one tax that I dont' have to pay.

Why not ask the opponents of other State "education" Lotteries how beneficial they have been for the children in those states! I have a friend from NY who worked in the schools there when the lottery began in NY. Eventually, it has become nothing more than what lotteries are; a get rich quick scheme!

Watch what happens in a few years to the State allocated funding for schools. See what the lottery will do then! Watch what will happen to local taxes and see if people still want a lottery in NC!

Shalom

Lottery money may go to the schools, but my bet is it will only replace tax money which would have been given to the schools but which now will diverted elsewhere.

As to Darryl's comment about asking other states whose schools have seen a boost from lottery money, unless the individual state has set up the lottery "rules" that are exactly like those set up by NC, then this will tell you nothing.

I personally probably won't play the lottery, but I certainly won't until I see some numbers over a couple of years that indicate it is, in fact, beneficial to our schools.

Does anyone think that Deputy Director Garland sat down at her desk one fine day and decided to write a letter to the N&R so all of us nice people in Greensboro would know how wonderful it is to have a lottery? Nope. The press spokesman for the lottery commission carefully crafted this opinion piece and attached Garland's name to it. I'll bet that every newspaper in the state received the same letter.

I just read that the Raliegh schools, want the parents to supply paper plates, baby wipes, chalk,etc. Sorry Alice this information is often seen in the papers and on Tv. Did you get invited on Captain Mike cruise? Just ask your friends in Va. if schools have been helped by the lottery? Of course if you want to play, its none of my concern.

I'm not sure why parents would be asked to supply paper plates and baby wipes but they seem kind of unrelated to regular coursework.

I don't have a problem with schools asking parents to supply materials for extra-curricular activities. There may be legal issues with schools spending money for entertainment purposes.

I remember being a kid and parents volunteered and gave all kinds of things to schools.

Asking and requiring are different things, however.