i had a few conversations @ my state meeting that started off this article concerning the state of the lottery in tennessee. i am quite disgusted. go figure
caution rant ahead:
so a few years ago our beautiful state made the "logical" decision to approve a lottery. much to the dismay of many church groups, my methodist church included. i remember news footage of my "redneck" neighbors, "i'd love to win som monie." we followed georgia, like a love struck puppy, in their "hope" scholarship system, and then toted in early childhood programs (pre-k classroom subsidizing). the cynic in me, worried about it all, even though i knew it was going to pass. don't worry that georgians, tend to get angry about people getting good grades, just so that students will get money for college & thus are ill prepared for college studies, thus wasting money..
our official church stance: we feel it is detrimental to "society, deadly to the best interests of moral, social, economic, and spiritual life, and destructive of good government."
true to form, we have a surplus of lottery money, attributed to fewer scholarships distributed than anticipated. now, the original proponent of the lottery is saying the excess money needs to go to pre-k programs (how brilliant, that was what you advertised when you were lobbying for votes). however, due to our state government deficit, our governor is being hushed and advocating a reserve fund, for later "bad days".. now, the cynic comes back to say.. this reserve will be used to bail out our monster burden, tenn-care (for those not within tn, it's our medical insurance for everyone program... it's horrible and terribly corrupt. let's bail out our government and let down our children.
not to be out done. i just happened to read this article the other day about one of the biggest lottery winners a few years ago. i was encouraged when i saw his press conference, he talked about giving money to a few pastors and doing good things.. gambling problems, dui, kidnapping, dead peole in the house, robberies.. i am sorry to hear that few good things have happened for his family since. :: series of articles ::
similar to how i view my father... the church is wise. we should acknowledge this sometime.
