I can't resist commenting. Keep in mind these remarks come from a "neutral
observer", since I don't live in Tennessee.

At 09:04 AM 10/18/02 -0400, Don Harris wrote:

>Ten Reasons to Oppose the Lottery in Tennessee
>
>2. Lotteries in other states have not solved funding problems for education
>or state budgets in general.

I won't argue, but ask students and parents in Georgia how the Hope
Scholarship has helped solve funding problems for families trying to PAY
for higher education!

>5. State-run gambling makes losers of its citizens.

Wow, first I'm criticized for not supporting the Big Orange, now I'm a
loser because I'm a citizen of a state with a lottery. ;-)  (How 'bout them
Dawgs?)

>6. Lotteries exploit the poor. The National Gambling Impact Study
>Commission reported that people with incomes below $10,000 participate more
>in lottery gambling than any other income group.

I would argue that the high sales tax in Tennessee does a much better job
of exploiting the poor than the lottery would. But the same people arguing
"it would hurt the poor" are the same people throwing rocks and walking the
streets in Nashville protesting an income tax. When an income tax is
mentioned, their concern for the "poor" seems to disappear.

>10. A lottery in Tennessee makes gambling convenient. Many people would
>never start gambling if they had to travel to another state. But with a
>lottery, gambling is as close as a convenience store, gas station or
>grocery store.
>
I doubt the long 5-mile drive to North Georgia is deterring many in
Chattanooga from buying lottery tickets. Look at the license plates in the
parking lot at Walmart in Fort Oglethorpe. People are already buying
lottery tickets while they are saving on their groceries and their gasoline.

Let me close by saying "vote no" on the lottery. Since I live in Georgia,
I'm counting on those lottery proceeds to fund my children's college
education. I'd hate to see those generous folks in Southeast Tennessee who
buy Georgia lottery tickets use that money for Tennessee students.  And
talk about an increase in work load for those poor souls that work in the
Financial Aid Office that would have to process all those lottery
scholarships. Boy, I'd hate to have that job!


Jonathan Looney
Director - Student Financial Aid
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga