[Swanks]

I like Walter William's view. FOR the lottery because its a tax on poor people. Largly poor(er) folks play the lottery. They don't pay taxes. They should pay taxes. The lottery is a way for them to pay their taxes. That simple.

[Wright is right!]

" like Walter William's view. FOR the lottery because its a tax on poor people. Largly poor(er) folks play the lottery. They don't pay taxes. They should pay taxes. The lottery is a way for them to pay their taxes. That simple."

Rush isn't joking when he says that what we really need is a tax increase on the poor. They're the only ones that don't pay taxes.

As for the lottery - the moral argument befuddles me. Why should we put government in the position of regulating morality. As conservatives, we should be for individual freedom - and that includes the freedom to lavish a few bucks on the occasional lottery ticket if we so choose. I've never understood the Conservative argument that since a lottery is gambling, we should prohibit it. That puts us in the hypocritical position of making nanny decisions for El Publico. That's supposed to be the exact OPPOSITE of what we're all about.

Michael

[Theodore R.]

Walter Williams always has the most original take on economic issues, doesn't he? As far a legislature voting down a lottery proposal to send to voters, that is rare indeed. Most legislators are salivating at the prospect of getting more money from any sources to spend on their pet project to "buy" the uninformed voters' support. Liberal Ann W. Richards pushed through a lottery in TX in 1991, and it is very popular. However, it did not help Richards win reelection in 1994, when she was surprised by what the Democrats called "The Shrub."

[SamAdams76]

I like Walter William's view. FOR the lottery because its a tax on poor people. Largly poor(er) folks play the lottery. They don't pay taxes. They should pay taxes. The lottery is a way for them to pay their taxes. That simple.

I agree with your statement that the lottery is a tax on poor people. But the lottery has done nothing to bring my tax burden down. The government just keeps the extra money and continues to tax me just the same. If my tax burden was lessened by the the poor (and/or stupid) buying lottery tickets, then I might become a bigger fan of the lottery.