This Daily Tar Heel story carries an interesting comment from state Rep. Rick Glazier about the state-run lottery.
N.C. Rep. Rick Glazier, D-Cumberland, voted in 2005 to initiate the lottery.
He said it helps provide money for public education, but he is now worried that too much of the lottery’s earnings are used for noneducational purposes.
“If we could be reassured that the money went to education, I believe the title could stay,” he said. “But if we can’t, then the title should be changed.”
Frankly, I don’t care what the state-run lottery is called. It simply shouldn’t exist since state government shouldn’t be owning and operating a gambling business. I’m not against lotteries or gambling; people can choose to spend their money on anything they want as long as it is legal and there is no fraud involved. What I oppose is a government-run lottery. The answer is to allow private gambling concerns to operate in North Carolina, where they would be taxed and provide jobs. I appreciate Rep. Glazier’s concern, but I hope he will look at the broader issue.
