[hotair2]

I read a new poll that said 49% are in favor of the Arkansas lottery, which of course means that 51% are against or just don't care.

I for one am in favor of the lottery if the money is used for education, which it is supposed to be. In Georgia, the lottery has worked very well. The money has to be used for education. If you graduate from high school with a 3.0 gpa you qualify for a "Peach Scholarship". That means that the state will pay the entire tuition for any state college. The only requirement is that you have to keep a certain GPA while in school.

I don't understand what the opposition is to the lottery here. Any thoughts?

[InLondon]

Originally Posted by hotair2

I don't understand what the opposition is to the lottery here. Any thoughts?

Some have an issue with it because it's gambling. We've had lottery in KY for a long time and I know some that still complain about it because of the whole gambling thing and for some it becomes an addiction. A lot of the money does go toward education though.

[PurpleLove08]

Some people oppose it because they feel gambling is immoral.
My words to them: Don't gamble!!

I support the lottery but I do not agree with these outrageous salaries for the people running the lottery. That could be money used to fund scholarships.
I wonder if voters have any authority to put the salary on the ballot and cap it.
I think at most the lottery director should make about 100,000 but the current salary is just outrageous. Plus he gets all his little buddies from North Carolina to come on in and put their hands in the pot.

I hate that Beebe has spoken out about the salaries AFTER they have been finalized and all that good stuff. He is pretty much spineless on numerous things. He doesn't come out against things until the last minute. What kind of leadership is that?

I just hope this lottery helps attract some businesses to the state once we raise the percentage of people who hold degrees. I would hate to see a lot of our educated young people leave off for Dallas, Nashville, etc.

[marmac]

We have a lottery in Minnesota also.

I doubt there is a single person addicted to the lottery.
The problem comes when the state starts branching out into instant scratch tickets that people get addicted and use up too much of their paycheck --------IMHO

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by hotair2

I read a new poll that said 49% are in favor of the Arkansas lottery, which of course means that 51% are against or just don't care.

I for one am in favor of the lottery if the money is used for education, which it is supposed to be. In Georgia, the lottery has worked very well. The money has to be used for education. If you graduate from high school with a 3.0 gpa you qualify for a "Peach Scholarship". That means that the state will pay the entire tuition for any state college. The only requirement is that you have to keep a certain GPA while in school.

I don't understand what the opposition is to the lottery here. Any thoughts?

I too, am in favor of it, but I can give you a couple reasons some are not: 1-it is the old feeling, if you play the lottery you will want to gamble more and too many people who can not afford to play will try to get rich. Those who are oppossed do not realize, if someone wants to gamble they will find a way. Every state almost around AR has a lottery, people who want tickets will just pop over to another state. It is not my business to judge who can and can not afford to gamble. Of course the religious right plays a part in this. 2-even though the article passed with flying colors I think many are now disillusioned with the cost to get it started and the choices for the top management jobs. I agree 110%. OK, the guy who is heading it up has great experience, is her worth over $300,000 I don't know, but the rest he is bringing in at outrageous salaries is not pleasing people.

Nita

[hotair2]

Salaries. Yes I have heard people complain about that. I really don't know what these people get paid in other states. They should release how they came up with the compensation package. Maybe they have and I just have not seen it. I agree with Nita that if that is what they cost that is fine, but they should have to justify the salaries in a state where the average salary is so low.

I forgot about the gambling problem, but the problem is that we are just losing all of that money to our neighbors.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by marmac

We have a lottery in Minnesota also.

I doubt there is a single person addicted to the lottery.
The problem comes when the state starts branching out into instant scratch tickets that people get addicted and use up too much of their paycheck --------IMHO

that will be part of the lottery. They will have scratch offs. The term "lottery" is very broad.

Nita

[Dr. Foosball]

<---- In favor of lottery; not in favor of huge salaries that have been linked to lottery.

I am not concerned about the gambling problems because I already live 5 minutes from Oklahoma. If my neighbors have gambling problems, they are already in trouble.

[hotair2]

Originally Posted by Dr. Foosball

<---- In favor of lottery; not in favor of huge salaries that have been linked to lottery.

I am not concerned about the gambling problems because I already live 5 minutes from Oklahoma. If my neighbors have gambling problems, they are already in trouble.

I am in the same boat. I hate seeing Arkansas money going into Oklahoma. One of the things I like about Arkansas is that is not Oklahoma, not to mention the fact that we need the money. I would rather they come here and spend the money.

[e_cuyler]

Does AR have a similar Indian presence as Oklahoma? If so, the lottery would most likely mean casino gaming. I don't recall that AR has that, but I'm only familiar with one part of the state.