Free Lottery Tickets "Honor" The Elderly
Monday January 12, 2009
A ran across a press release that said the Pennsylvania Department of Aging will be celebrating "Older Pennsylvanians Day" by giving lottery scratch off tickets to anyone over the age of 60 at the Farm Show (up to 900 people).
This struck me as weird. In fact, the press release said: "to honor the state's elder population Department of Aging Secretary John Michael will be giving away free Pennsylvania Lottery scratch-off tickets to those 60 and older at the Farm Show."
There's is just something about this that struck me the wrong way. Here you have the Department of Aging giving away lottery tickets to 900 people over 60 who are able to make it to the Farm Show. That doesn't strike me as a way to "honor" the elderly population of the state. I would think that the Department of Aging would, on "Older Pennsylvanians Day" be holding a press conference to announce their legislative and program agenda for the coming year. But I guess 900 scratch-offs is pretty good too. (If you happen to be near the Farm Show and are over age 60, head to the Maclay Street entrance for that free scratch-off.)
What do you think? How should a state honor its elderly population? Lottery tickets? A baseball cap? New medicare policies? Leave your thoughts in the comments.
This struck me as weird. In fact, the press release said: "to honor the state's elder population Department of Aging Secretary John Michael will be giving away free Pennsylvania Lottery scratch-off tickets to those 60 and older at the Farm Show."
There's is just something about this that struck me the wrong way. Here you have the Department of Aging giving away lottery tickets to 900 people over 60 who are able to make it to the Farm Show. That doesn't strike me as a way to "honor" the elderly population of the state. I would think that the Department of Aging would, on "Older Pennsylvanians Day" be holding a press conference to announce their legislative and program agenda for the coming year. But I guess 900 scratch-offs is pretty good too. (If you happen to be near the Farm Show and are over age 60, head to the Maclay Street entrance for that free scratch-off.)
What do you think? How should a state honor its elderly population? Lottery tickets? A baseball cap? New medicare policies? Leave your thoughts in the comments.
The ticket promotion is a subtle way to remind seniors in Pennsylvania where the support for their services originates. The Pennsylvania Lottery is the only lottery in the US to dedicate ALL proceeds to services for senior citizens, which allows Pennsylvania to offer some of the most generous prescription assistance services available. Pennsylvania has also eliminated dreaded property taxes for many of its senior citizens. Pennsylvania’s elders are very well served — and, if they were lucky enough to receive a free ticket at the Farm Show, they might also be a big winner, too!