California Lottery

The lottery is a regressive tax targeted at those who can least afford to pay. State Sen. Tim Leslie (R-Carnelian Bay) objects to welfare recipients playing the lottery (March 23). The solution is to make the lottery mandatory for all persons who pay California state income tax. Have every taxpayer play once per week whether he or she likes it or not. Not only is this still regressive, it keeps poor people from spending too much, and the people Leslie targets can’t even play.

This is of course a sarcastic solution to a serious problem. To replace taxes with revenue from gambling is shameful. I only wish the gamblers knew better.

JIM KETCHAM

Malibu