Beware! Don’t be greedy for what you don’t
have. Real life is not measured by how much we own. Luke 12:15
For
the next several days we will share parts of a message delivered to
congregations I have served regarding the North Carolina and Florida Education
Lottery. These messages were in
opposition to the state sponsoring gambling as a means of funding the school
systems of our state.
During the
campaign for governor of North Carolina, Mike Easley, who eventually won the
post, was pro-lottery. In his first
State of the State address, here is what he told the assembled media and
politicians…
Now I am not
saying a lottery for education is the only solution, it's just one solution. If
anyone has a better idea...if anyone has another way to find the $400 - $500
million for education, I am open to it. But
you can't just say 'no' we're against a lottery - finish the sentence - tell me
what you're for, because next year 100,000 five-year olds will show up at the
schoolhouse door, and they deserve more than an overcrowded classroom and an
overworked teacher."[1]
I am glad to
answer the governor’s question – finish his sentence: I’m for raising children without teaching
them that gambling is the high ethical road!
We don’t need a lottery educating our children – we need responsible
fiscal management and ethical leaders to set the example.
When those
100,000 five-year olds show up at the schoolhouse door they deserve the best –
they don’t deserve a society filled with gambling and the inevitable associated
ills it will bring, crime, more prisons and gambling addictions. Those children don’t deserve to grow up and
pay for the “therapy” 3% of their neighbors will need to get off
their gambling addiction!
If more money
is needed for education, Mike, North Carolinians will pay the taxes – an
honorable way of funding the needed salaries and supplies for educating our
children. We don’t need another Las
Vegas in this beautiful state!
I would like
to share with you the reasons why I will not participate in the lottery, or any
other form of gambling....
Reason #1 - ADDICTION IS POSSIBLE
The evidence
for this is in experience itself.
Paydays are enlightening. If you
walk into a convenience store in any state with a lottery, you will see lines
of folks waiting to buy a lottery ticket (or 20)! Are these folks winning? No...they're exercising their constitutional
right to throw away whatever portion of their paycheck they care to!
If
gambling is not addictive, why would millions of consistent
"non-winners" continue to play against incredible odds? The National Council on Compulsive Gambling
has stated that there are approximately 8 million compulsive gamblers in the
United States alone. On average, when a
compulsive gambler finally seeks help for his addiction he is in debt for over
$80,000.
The evidence
suggests strongly that the addiction is at least as strong as alcohol or
drugs. A natural question that follows
is: How long does it take to get hooked
on gambling? If crack cocaine is an
example...one experience could do it.
In 1990 one
man spent $46,000 for a weekly drawing in the Florida lottery.[2]
In 1990,
Americans placed legal bets of over $286 billion dollars. That's equivalent to
5 percent of the Gross National Product. That's one-third more than the (then)
total amount spent on elementary and secondary education in this country. It is
nearly four times the amount (then) given to religious institutions.[3]
What's the
allure, the draw? The promise of great
wealth.
Gambling is
addictive – we already have enough opportunities for that!
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