Lottery is huge windfall for government

Perhaps we as a nation need to realize what motivates us. What will make us stand for a cause that eliminates class warfare, racial tension and political strife to our society.

Reading the Daily Herald recently, it was stated that $1.5 billion was spent by the people of the United States for the chance to win a $650 million jackpot.

Let’s do some simple math. Government lottery agencies picked up $850 million dollars in revenue just on ticket sales. Approximately another $250 million in tax revenues will also go to the coffers after taxation of the payouts from the winners. Let’s see, that’s a $1.1 billion return for a payout of about $400 million that people in America freely put their money down for, knowing that they have a greater chance of getting two holes in one in the same round of golf than they do of winning.

Perhaps we’ve found a way to happily help pay down our debt, find a way to fund healthcare and return this country to prosperity? My main concern is with this windfall of cash going into government accounts. Why don’t we ever hear something positive in the media about this windfall of revenue?

What are these funds doing? Do they just disappear?

Dave Zeffery

Libertyville