It makes me sick at my stomach whenever I’m in line in a store behind someone who uses food stamps and/or WIC checks and also purchases lottery tickets. People who are on public assistance of that sort, along with those who live in publicly subsidized housing, should not be allowed to buy lottery tickets.
If they can’t get by without help from their fellow citizens (since that’s what the ‘government’ really is), they can’t afford such luxuries. Besides, many of them spend so much of their money on that kind of stuff that it often comes at the expense of the necessities of life for themselves and their families. And doesn’t that defeat the whole point of public assistance?
But how could a rule like that be enforced? Very simply. Each state’s lottery department would issue a lottery permit to each of its citizens of majority age (18 or over). This permit would bear the person’s name, legal address, and some kind of identifying number. It would have to presented to a clerk (or whomever) in order to purchase lottery tickets. When one goes on the public dole, he or she would have to relinquish that permit. Once any of those people got back on their feet again, it would be returned to them.
Before you try to claim that this would be some kind of breach of the Constitution, keep in mind that buying lottery tickets is like driving – it’s a privilege, not a right. State and local municipalities have a right to determine, in the best interest of society, who gets what privileges and who doesn’t. Placing a restriction on who can buy lottery tickets would be a step in the right direction for modern civilization.
Hey Terry, wic is not welfare. Just about any woman or working couple can get it for their young children.
Posted by: Izzy | October 22, 2009 at 02:57 PM
Unfortunately this is not something that could be enforced. They would get people with permits to buy for them! Also, what about alcohol or cigarettes, movies or any other form of entertainment that they really can't afford? While I agree with the writer, we will always have moochers in society. Too bad we can't make them stop multiplying! They can't afford to have children, why should I have to pay for them?!
Posted by: Diane | October 23, 2009 at 01:18 PM