Politics The Lottery

[Jamison]

I'm not sure if it's been on the national news or not, but North Carolina has finally gotten a lottery. We started with scratch-offs yesterday.

There's been a whole lot of debate here about whether or not we should have one, so I thought I'd make a topic here to see where people stand on the lottery issue. There were several demonstrations around town yesterday in protest to the lottery. Many church members were stationed at gas stations and proceeding to yell things like "You'll rot in hell for that"...which, you know, is real productive.

I've always been a fan of the lottery and was quite happy that NC finally got one. I understand that people don't like it and that's fine...they don't have to play it. I don't see how it's any worse than alcohol or smoking in regards to having an addiction.

Anyways, what are your thoughts?

 

[xdancer]

i'm not really sure what i think about it. i'm glad it'll provide more money for north carolina education (god knows we could use it), but i'm concerned with the assertion some make that it will act as a regressive tax.

 

[AliasHombre]

Perhaps a regressive tax in that the stupider one is, the more they will play the lottery.

 

[Jamison]

Perhaps a regressive tax in that the stupider one is, the more they will play the lottery.

Intelligent people also play the lottery.

 

[AliasHombre]

Playing the lottery makes one unintelligent.

 

[Jamison]

Playing the lottery makes one unintelligent.

Hmmm...well even though I have a 4.0 I must be unintelligent because I do play the lottery.

While I think it certainly isn't smart to spend your entire paycheck on lottery tickets, playing every now and then isn't a bad thing at all. It isn't any worse then going to a casino or playing a game of poker, or taking part in office pools for sports games.

 

[sugababyboo]

I've always been a fan of the lottery and was quite happy that NC finally got one. I understand that people don't like it and that's fine...they don't have to play it. I don't see how it's any worse than alcohol or smoking in regards to having an addiction.

Yes, and the country saw how well prohibiton was when it was in "effect". If a government is going to base their laws off of possible addictions then they're going to have be fair and outlaw almost everything like alcohol, cigarettes, prescription drugs, the internet, pornography, clothing stores/malls and even sex


I consider myself to be indifferent towards the lottery. It only bothers me when someone who is really old or already rich wins, unlike those meat packers that won the powerball I was happy for them.

 

[Jamison]

Yes, and the country saw how well prohibiton was when it was in "effect". If a government is going to base their laws off of possible addictions then they're going to have be fair and outlaw almost everything like alcohol, cigarettes, prescription drugs, the internet, pornography, clothing stores/malls and even sex

I consider myself to be indifferent towards the lottery. It only bothers me when someone who is really old or already rich wins, unlike those meat packers that won the powerball I was happy for them.

Totally agree

I don't understand the supreme oppostion towards the lottery. I mean, I've lived in NC for 10 years and through all of that time it has been debated back and forth. Yet, there isn't any debate about any of those other things. Maybe because they're lost causes...but if your debate is that it's "harmful" and "addicting" then you have to look at all the other harmful and addicting things out there...and there are a lot.

I agree to about liking when deserving people win. It's wonderful when someone who really needs the money gets it.

 

[SydneyAnneVaughn]

i'm very indifferent about it because i believe the odds here in Texas of winning the lottery are so high. as one of my teachers said "You could get hit by lightning 3 times before you could win the lottery." but atleast some of the profits are donated to schools here.

 

[Jamison]

i'm very indifferent about it because i believe the odds here in Texas of winning the lottery are so high. as one of my teachers said "You could get hit by lightning 3 times before you could win the lottery." but atleast some of the profits are donated to schools here.

That's the good aspect of a lot of lotteries...they go to education. Take Georgia for example. They started a thing called the HOPE scholarship progam, which has helped over 900,000 Georgia students. If you maintain a B average while in high school this program provides students with tuition, mandatory fees, and a book allowence for any of Georgia's public colleges, universities, or technical colleges. If you decide to attend a private college or university then you are eligible for $3,000. They also help students out who are majoring in teaching. I'm sorry, but I find it hard to condemn something that is doing so much good. I know people who I went to high school with who were able to maintain a B average, but were unable to pay for college. A program like this could've really helped them out.