This is no new theme for me, but the N&O‘s lead story gives me another opportunity to make this point.
The gist of this story is that state-funded education programs are in danger of running short of funds because North Carolinians aren’t spending “enough” money on the state lottery.
Policymakers who care about the well-being of North Carolinians might conclude that this information is good news: The state’s residents are not as gullible as had been projected. Die-hard lottery fans are playing the game, while others are using their money for other items.
Instead, some lawmakers are bound to conclude: that the lottery needs to devote less money to education programs and more money to prizes; that advertising restrictions should be loosened or lifted; and/or that general fund money should cover the gap between lottery projections and actual lottery revenue to pay for the governor’s education priorities.
