State Lotteries

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

What are your views on lotteries supporting education. You had a
comentary several years ago that made a very good impression on me.

― P.Warren, Saturday, 11 January 2003 22:23 (twenty-two years ago)

Why the Lottery is fantastic

I used to be dead against them as a tax on the poor.

Later when I was poor, it was kind of fun to play. Now I don't care.

― felicity (felicity), Saturday, 11 January 2003 22:28 (twenty-two years ago)

I think that if we're going to have lotteries we might as well have state-owned-and-operated casinos and tracks as well. And most of the funding should be directed into the pockets of public schoolteachers, not into ridiculous new gymnasiums and computer labs as boards are wont to purchase with excessive frequency.

Delaware runs all of its own liquor stores, which strikes me as a good idea as well. The prices and selection of the one I've visited were excellent, and I know my liquor stores.

Personally I don't see why more state govt's don't go about turning vice industries into public works projects. The potential revenues are enormous, plus the citizenry at large won't perceive it as a tax increase.

― Tom Millar (Millar), Saturday, 11 January 2003 22:32 (twenty-two years ago)

the only lottery I like is this one:

http://www.philipkdick.com/solarlot.htm

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Saturday, 11 January 2003 23:22 (twenty-two years ago)

Well, lotteries were a relatively new thing to California when they were finally initiated there in the 80s, and until the day I moved away, I sadly never saw how the California lottery helped schools. Obviously, the state of education budgets in California is a big, big mess.. and it's always been a war between accusing the school admins for being greedy and lazy, and the state for not nearly allocating enough of it. But maybe the positive effect of lotteries is actually visible in other states.

― donut bitch (donut), Sunday, 12 January 2003 03:37 (twenty-two years ago)

Delaware runs all of its own liquor stores, which strikes me as a good idea as well. The prices and selection of the one I've visited were excellent, and I know my liquor stores.

I'm not so sure about that -- Virginia similarly monopolizes hard liquor sales, and every Virginian I know has a story about not being able to find something a certain special something they wanted at the ABC.

As for lotteries, I'm one of those cynics who refers to it as the "stupid people's tax," and I'm aware of patronizing that statement is. Still, assuming that the popularity of lotteries reflects a popular demand for gambling, I don't blame governments for treating it as a source of income -- I just wish I had some indications that these revenues were being put to intelligent use. However, that's life in DC.

― j.lu (j.lu), Sunday, 12 January 2003 04:17 (twenty-two years ago)

Our state lottery has never done anything for education despite that being the premise when it was voted in 11 years ago.

It's never done more than $3 worth for me either so fie on it!

― That Girl (thatgirl), Sunday, 12 January 2003 11:31 (twenty-two years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.