Read the whole storyLt. Gov. Bill Halter proposes state lottery to fund college scholarships
Do you support the idea of a state lottery to fund education?
Lieutenant Governor Bill Halter is backing a proposal to create a state lottery to fund college scholarships in Arkansas. His proposed constitutional amendment will be on the 2008 general election ballot if it's wording is approved by the Attorney General and backers collect the needed 78,000 petition signatures.
Do you think it's time Arkansas joined the majority of other states that operate a state lottery? Will you vote for the Halter proposal? What sort of lottery games would you like to see: daily contests, scratch-off tickets, huge multi-state Lotto jackpots? If approved, will you take part in the lottery by purchasing tickets on a regular basis?
Of course Arkansas should have a state lottery! This is a no-brainer, as long as all of our neighboring states are generating revenues this way. Arkansans are contributing a chunk of those revenues that other states are using to meet their needs. We have needs in this state -- just look at the education scorecard -- and to continue allowing our money to flow out to help school systems in other states is just plain foolish. Politicans talk about generating jobs in Arkansas to enhance revenues. Well, a state lottery would create revenues, could generate additional income for small businesses selling the lottery tickets and would keep Arkansas money in Arkansas. Why are we even having a debate? Do it!
I support the concept of having a state lottey and joining one of the "mega" lotteries such as PowerBall, but I think it's naive to think the money raised will all go to education. If the money raised by this is ear-marked for education, the politicians will just shift existing funding from education to their usual pork-barrel projects. Business as usual in the leg.
I would no problem casting my vote for a state lottery. I also think it would be a great idea to mandate that the money go to education, as it is very evident that it is needed in this state. However I have faith that our politicians will find some other way to spend the money.
I do NOT support the proposal for a state lottery. I have lived in 17 states (and 5 countries), and some of them have lotteries and other forms of gambling. There are some 'selling points' FOR these proposals but, in my experience, they are not fulfilled, in practice. It's too easy to introduce criminal elements, too easy for people to lose the money they can't afford to lose, too easy for some to become gambling addicts, wasting money needed for their families. Most important to me, however, is that it promotes the idea that you can get something for nothing, that we can fund education or other needed services this way as opposed to paying for it through the most direct, fair way, through paying fair taxes. (I am not opposed to gambling, on moral grounds, I just don't think every state needs to chase these dollars instead of providing public services through the proven means).
10/22/2007 10:48:47 AM
