Dallas NAACP Wants Texas Lottery Shut Down

[The Northerner]

DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) – The Dallas chapter of the NAACP wants to stop seeing low income Texans pumping money into the state lottery by putting it out of business.

In poorer communities, though, the lottery seems to offer the chance at a life otherwise out of reach.

A study paid for by the Texas Lottery Commission says the people most likely to play Pick 3 are those making $20,000 a year or less –– below the poverty line. And people who are unemployed are more likely to buy scratch-off tickets than those who have jobs or retirees, the study found.

David Anderson collects disability but still spends a few dollars a week testing his luck. “It’s up to me, spend this five dollars or should I go buy a loaf of bread and hamburger to feed the kids,’ he said.

Read more: http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2012/06/27/naacp-dallas-wants-texas-lottery-shut-down/

[bigwillq]

1. Will they ask the same of tobacco and alcohol companies?

[sadbear]

2. I'll admit to not really knowing where Lotto money goes

but this seems like a lazy solution.

[nanabugg]

4. In PA, it goes directly to the elderly and some other things too. My parents get a rebate

every year from the lottery funds the state takes in. It also goes to susidize public transportation for the elderly and rental and living assistance.

[sadbear]

5. In Texas, it's supposed to go toward education

but with republicans in charge for the past 18 years, I don't know if anyone knows where it actually goes.

[former9thward]

3. That bridge was crossed long ago and was burnt down.

There is no going back. States are addicted to the lottery and there is no changing that.

[FrodosPet]

6. The Lottery is a tax on people who are bad at math

In the casinos, roulette is considered by many a sucker game because the house edge is 5.26%.

Pick 3 and pick 4 lottery in Michigan is a 50% house advantage. Powerball and MegaMillions are even worse unless and until the cash value payout is in the hundreds of millions.

[alp227]

7. In these types of stories it's best to avoid the comments section.

I posted a reply to the top comment that included &quot Develop) the PRIDE to say NO to welfare and the pomps and works of liberalism. If you want to ADVANCE, look at other groups who have come here and done so, and do likewise. Emulate the thrift and hard work of Asians, Europeans, South Americans and anyone else who has come here and earned their place. Legislation does not cause advancement: Hard Work does!" That was the top-liked comment I basically pointed out links to the NAACP.org website that show the organization DOES care about family and anti-crime efforts and economic opportunities. Within a few hours or so the comment will show up, and I encourage DUers to click "like" (no registration required to vote, but registration required to post).

Originally I discovered this story thru CNN.com, the third-most-liked comment: "Hmmm blacks pointing fingers at others for their problems.. shocker." Followed by "At some point, blacks and other minorities have to take care of themselves." (A reply: "Not as long as Obama is president. He'll tax you until they all have houses, cell phones, and all the manicures they can stand.&quot Wow, I did not know Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum spam the comment sections of so-called liberal media websites. I flagged all 3 comments.

Personally I would oppose an outright ban on lotteries, but there's gotta be SOME regulation of how it's marketed, just like the Glass Stegall (spelling?) act.