Alabama becoming a serious competitor now? (Atlanta, Savannah: rent, mobile home, bankrupt)

[Onthemove2014]

Originally Posted by RoslynHolcomb

Lotteries are regressive because the poor bear a disproportionate share of the tax burden. Even worse, they stand to lose more and gain less of the benefit. After all, who's more likely to gain entry to Georgia Tech on the Hope scholarship; the kid whose parents work slinging hash at Waffle House down in Clayton County, or the one whose parents are corporate executives out in East Cobb?

When did income have anything to do with college admissions? If anything poor people get more money for it.

[Onthemove2014]

Originally Posted by atltechdude

I'm sorry but your information is wrong, so wrong that I can't even fathom how you came up with that nonsense.

The ATL metro population increased 28% in the last 10 years, while Birmingham metro population only increased 22%.

Further, the city of Atlanta increased by 1% while the city of Birmingham declined by 12%.

Wow, a woping 6% difference.

[cwkimbro]

Originally Posted by readyset

Please elaborate. What makes them "regressive"?

I have to agree with Roslyn. It has been studied and poorer people spend a higher percentage of their overall income on playing lottery. Someone who is richer doesn't need to play and when they do $1 or $2 to have fun with it is a smaller percentage of their overall income.

It is a voluntary tax, but that doesn't make it progressive or flat.

[cwkimbro]

Originally Posted by Onthemove2014

Wow, a woping 6% difference.

A 6% difference that makes the picture being painted of Birmingham out-competing us to be incorrect.

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by Onthemove2014

When did income have anything to do worth college admissions? If anything poor people get more money for it.

I suspect you'll find at least a loose correlation between kids who go to college and parental income levels, ven when you factor in something like the Hope Scholarship. I suspect it has something to do with better role models, having someone to push them along, or having a loftier goals than just getting the heck out of a crappy neighborhood ... tho I've worked with a few people where just getting away from parents was enough.

[Onthemove2014]

I never knew why people from Georgia think Alabama is so backwards. Both states are equally as backwards.

[cwkimbro]

Originally Posted by Onthemove2014

When did income have anything to do worth college admissions? If anything poor people get more money for it.

poor people as a whole group get less money from the Hope...

The middle and upper middle class get more money from the Hope, because they are socially better positioned to.

They have more money, more likely to be expected to go to college, more likely to go to a nicer high school with a higher rate of kids going to colleges, more likely to have parents who went to college, more likely to have the social/friend/family support to prepare the student for college,etc....

End results... People of all socio-economic levels can access Hope money -if- they go to college, but the rate at which people in different socio-economic levels move onto college or have the ability to do so is skewed.

Don't get me wrong I support the Hope scholarship. It is a boon for our universities, intellectual development locally, and translates to more money being attracted to our economy.

but.... we can't hide from the fact that it is a regressive, voluntary tax and the benefits also are regressive.

[ATLTJL]

we can't hide from the fact that it is a regressive, voluntary tax and the benefits also are regressive.

Is there any proof that being more progressive is better for a state's economy?

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by ATLTJL

Is there any proof that being more progressive is better for a state's economy?

Hmmm. Is the state's economy the only measuring stick we should be using?

[alco89]

Originally Posted by Onthemove2014

I lived in the Mobile area and It wan't "poor and rural". Alabama has plenty of good schools and people love the quality of life there compared to GA.

Originally Posted by Onthemove2014

I never knew why people from Georgia think Alabama is so backwards. Both states are equally as backwards.

We wish your name was "Onthemove2012" or "Onthemovenow" because as much as you're ready to leave Georgia, you can bet we are 10x more anxious to see you leave. Geez...