I say bravo to letter writer Ken Estes of Weaver. In my opinion, it's high time that Gov. Bob Riley reverses what appears to be an archaic stand on not allowing a lottery in Alabama. We are one of just a handful of states that does not have a state lottery.
In my opinion, Alabamians are going to play the lottery in Georgia, Tennessee and Florida and gamble in Mississippi, regardless. I fear that our money is funding their education systems and helping to improve roads and highways outside of the state of Alabama.
In addition, our money that is being spent on lotteries in neighboring states is being used to help pay the salaries of teachers who have left Alabama for better-paying jobs in those states because they have education lotteries and can afford to pay the teachers higher wages.
We cannot compete. Wake up, Alabama. We're letting our money leave the state in alarming amounts while our children receive what appears to be a lower standard of education and the weeds are left to grow along our highways.
Roger Boyd
Jacksonville
