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Lottery = a tax on the poor

Lottery = a tax on the poor = tax on the working so they can play the lottery.

Sorry Appy, just can't agree with you on this. Sure, a lottery will generate a lot of revenue from the poor. But, it is not mandatory and the poor, just like the rest of the citizenry has a choice. They can choose to smoke or not...(oh, sorry, wrong issue.. or does it matter?) The best thing to do, and probably the only thing you could hope for, is to pass the lottery, and fight like hell over control of the revenue. And, there WILL be quite a revenue.

I couldn't name a single personal friend, conservative or liberal who won't buy a few tickets each week. One close friend, a 55 year old church going Baptist, conservative Republican and lifetime NRA member from Hillsborough makes trips across the border to drop 10 or 20 dollars each week. Heck, half of my associates talk about how much gas they'll save each week not having to go up to South Hill.

There's a silent majority out there and you won't be able to identify them as easy because there aren't any political stripes with this issue.

Just callin' them the way I see 'em. The best part about it though is that if you don't want to "volunteer a contribution" with this tax, you won't have to. (Unless that Power Ball gets up into the nine figure range than that little evil AppyPappy jumps up on your shoulder and starts whispering in your ear... "200 MILLION, APPY, 200 MMMMMMMillionnnnnn...")

As opposed to the excise tax on booze and cigarettes instead. People who are going to waste their money are more than likely already doing so. I favor allowing lotteries, however, I do not favor a government monopoly on lotteries.