DUMB LUCK
Last month, auditors found that lottery officials paid nearly $1 million to people who owed debts to the state.
Before prize payments of more than $600 are processed, the Division of State Lottery is required to determine if winners have defaulted on child support or student loans. Instead, the state has been just giving out winnings willy-nilly.
On one hand, it seems like a good idea for the state to stay on top of deadbeats.
On the other, I'm wondering if it should be sticking its greedy nose in people's personal business since now legislators want to pass a law that would allow the state to take money from winnings for overdue bills, property and income taxes and fines.
Now, that's priceless!
posted by Diana at 11:01 AM
5 Comments:
If it's a state-run lottery and if a winner owes state funds of any kind, should deduct from the winnings..besides, if someone can buy $20 worth of lottery tickets a week, should be putting that money (no matter how small the amount) towards their child support, or past-due taxes or student loans...
Well said, Proofreader.
It seems to me that the people who can least afford to play the lottery are the very same people buying $40 worth of lottery tickets at one time. Often these same people walk home after buying their tickets because they don't own a car. Moroever, I'd be willing to bet next month's IRA contribution that these same people are ill-prepared for retirement.
I'm reminded of the bumper sticker: "The lottery is a tax imposed on those who didn't pay attention in high school math class."
So what's the square root of privacy?
Ayn Rand said it well: "Money is the root of all good."
I'd rather be rich and miserable than poor and miserable...
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