2010: TIME FOR A FEDERAL LOTTERY

I think the federal government ought to start a federal/national lottery.

This is how it should be done:

All tax-filers could opt to pay an additional $52 to have their social security number entered into a weekly lottery.

There are 150 MILLION tax-filers, so this could potentially raise $5.2 billion.

The federal government would keep half - and use it to pay for a specific project - like a new hospital for veterans..

Then, every week, an IRS computer would randomly select the social security/TAX ID number of a tax-filer who opted in.

So every week, there'd be a $75 MILLION dollar winner - and the winner would be guaranteed to be a tax-paying US citizen, (or legally employed resident).

Once an SS/TAX ID number has been selected, then that number would be withdrawn from the pool of remaining numbers.

So, there's guaranteed to be a new multi-millionaire every week.

EVERY WEEK OF THE YEAR!

The winnings would be free of federal income tax, but not state or local taxes.

WHATTAYATINK?