by Jennifer Hill

Created on: April 17, 2009

As a former welfare recipient, the thought that someone out there wants to reduce the less fortunate in this country to nothing more than rats in a cage scares me to death. Why would someone think they have the right to say that welfare recipients cannot win the lottery? America is a free country, and was founded on freedom! What right does our government have to place restrictions on anything our citizens choose to do?

The welfare system includes many different programs to help the less fortunate in our nation: Medicaid, Food Stamps, WIC and AFDC (or TANF in some states) to name a few. These programs are in place, not to enable these families to be controlled, but to help these families live.

Let me underscore that: LIVE. To live, in America, means ALL citizens have the right to live; the freedom to make their own choices. This includes where they want to live, what stores they want to shop at, and the right to dream.

Nobody dreams of living on welfare. Nobody dreams of being poor (or if they do, it's most likely a nightmare). Sadly, it is the reality of too many of us!

If any of us lower-income individuals can honestly say "I have never dreamed of winning the lottery", I'll eat my husband's dirty socks. All of us dream of that. Especially those of us who can barely afford to support our children. It's the American Dream that someday we can all make a good living!

How would you feel if you were told that you won a million dollars? I'd be jumping through the roof! Then to be told, "oh, sorryyou are a welfare recipient, so you don't get all that money; we'll give you $600 instead". Isn't that almost like saying "We only give money to those who don't need it?"

To tell welfare recipients that they can only receive a government controlled amount for winning the lottery is telling them that their family doesn't deserve a chance at a successful life. It's telling them that they aren't worth giving the rights that all other citizens have.

Let's look at the positive aspects of what can happen if a person receiving welfare benefits wins the lottery. First of all, that person will no longer need welfare benefits, which saves the taxpayers money. Then, the money will be put into the economy because the family will be buying things for their children. Perhaps the family will purchase (or start) a business, which will create jobs. Maybe they will just purchase a home, or a car. However they spend the winnings, my point is that the money stimulates the economy.

Our American government does not have the right to tell any citizen that they can't win the lottery. That is unfair, judgmental, prejudiced and unconstitutional. We need to make sure America stays free; free for all citizens, rich or poor.

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