Impossible you say? I don't think so.

In my many years of watching crap ooze from Jones Street, I'd be remiss in thinking I've both seen and heard it all. From Neal Hunt-R and his 75 MPH (excessive speed) bill to the idiots who proposed tolling the majority of North Carolina's ferries, Jim Black-D still holds the record for the most self-righteous legislation in recent memory. Known as the "Payback My Optometrists' Friends Bill", Black proposed having mandating that every child in North Carolina, upon entering school, have an eye exam. Of course these exams would be given by the very same people that got Black elected in the first place; a sort of refilling of pockets previously emptied for political contributions. And as disingenuous as he was obvious, Black, just like his legislation, would soon go up in flames.

So if the North Carolina General Assembly (currently controlled by Republicans) is known for one thing, it's the problematic stupidity that continues to seep from it's walls; and originating from the problematic stupidity of the electorate. Case in point is salary raises for teachers and how to pay for them. Luckily, creativity (minus the meaningful by definition) has struck again. The North Carolina House has now proposed that lottery proceeds be used to increase teacher's pay. And while House Speaker Thom (we were against it before we were for it) Tillis is singing the praises of a solution to this dilemma, the adamant surety seems more profound as noted here:

Rep. Craig Horn, a Weddington Republican and lead education budget writer, said the lottery forecasts are “an exact science” and defended the move. “We are in the process of actually doing what we said we were going to do when the lottery came in,” he said. “It’s the education lottery; well, lo and behold we are going to use the money for education.” N&O

And the same misfits who do not believe in climate change, exact or otherwise, now have a sure bet with North Carolinians purchasing lottery tickets. Educating these citizens will ensure a great return. As the proposed House Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 744 shows, it all starts with education:

(h)

The University of North Carolina shall develop and make available to the Department of Public Instruction course and professional development materials explaining the probabilities and other mathematical features of a lottery game for inclusion as a component of high school courses in civics and mathematics. The University of North Carolina shall also make available those same materials to the Office of Non-Public Education in the Department of Administration to be available to other schools.

Perhaps Black was right. We'll need an eye exam (along with an education) to see the windfall floating down from the skies.