Washington's Lottery

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Washington cannot on one hand aim to alleviate poverty and inequality while on the other profiting off of it through a monopoly on the state lottery. While some may defend the lottery as a means of funding public education, the reality is that this is a fundamental conflict of interest. Public education cannot be a vehicle for wisdom, prosperity, and happiness while simultaneously being funded off of foolishness, poverty, and desperation.

The state should end its role as the sole administrator of a predatory lottery industry and instead make itself the taxer and regulator with revenues going to fund prevention, treatment, and reduction of gambling addiction. Gambling can be a harmless vice for many people but we cannot allow for a powerful gambling lobby to engineer widespread addiction and financial imprudence into our state for profit.

General education funding should not rely on "vice taxes" as it creates perverse incentives in which the reduction of harmful societal problems translates into cuts to education. Education funding must be reliable and generated from core economic activity that is non-rivalrous with a prosperous society.

How the Lottery Became a Substitute for Actual HopeInstead of taxing the wealthiest, states fund important services through encouraging gambling habits. And instead of meaningful expectations for a better life, many people just have lotto tickets.

The Working Class Lost the $2 Billion Powerball LotteryThe lottery is effectively a regressive tax that often replaces state funding for education with ticket revenue.