Why not gamble to help Ohio schools...

Every so often a commercial appears on tv that just amazes me. I don't mean that in a good way. The last few days I have been seeing a commercial for the Ohio lottery. In it they tell how by playing the lottery you are helping Ohio schools. Really? So they are promoting gambling as a way to fund our schools? Sure, spend your food/housing/medical budget on gambling. You are not going to win because of the ridiculously high odds, but so what. By you throwing your money away children will be able to attend school. Do they think we are that stupid? I just can't believe the nerve of the Lottery Commission to think that this is they way to promote gambling. And of course this doesn't even begin to address the lie we have been handed about how the lottery will help fund education in our state. Add to that the sad sight every time I stop in a small convenience store and have to wait in line for all the people spending way too much on lottery tickets in a futile effort to hit the big jackpot. We really would be better off if they banned the lottery. The occasional winner will never justify the thousands of losers. Of course people don't see it that way. Just the same way they fail to realize the American dream of striking it rich is only a smokescreen to cover the millions of Americans who live in poverty with no hope of moving up the economic ladder...

Need money for the holidays, just play the lottery...

If only it was that easy. I have been seeing commercials lately from the Ohio Lottery Commission. They are advertising the holiday lottery games. What bothers me is the way they do it. It comes across that if you need extra cash for the holidays just play the lottery. Or give them as gifts so your loved ones will get the cash. I like how they also throw in that you are helping fund education in Ohio by playing. So the solution to our crumbling school systems in this state is to buy more lottery tickets? I am so out of the loop here. I could not find 2006 or 2007 data but for 2005 Ohioians spent an average of $190.20 per person on lottery products. Think about that. I don't play any of the lottery games. I know a lot of people who never play. So by process of elimination that means the people who do play are spending way more than that every year. These are the people you see every time you stop at any corner store or gas station. The ones huddled in a corner scratching off tickets or standing in line just salivating at another chance to throw what little money they have away.

What really bothers me about the whole lottery thing is the hypocrisy of it. It is gambling. Pure and simple. So why can't we take the next logical step and add casinos? What is the difference between my buying a lottery ticket or playing blackjack? Oh I forgot. I actually have better odds of winning at blackjack...