[titfn]

I agree that lottery is bad for society but the only reason that the government is doing it, I think, is because it was worst when organized crime had control over it.

But I do think that the government should reinvest all profits in education (not necessarily gambling related), gambling therapy, etc...

[tracker1]

The problem with that, is they wind up cutting education funding from other sources in favor of lottery funding. That said, funding isn't the biggest problem in education. The bigger issues are teacher pay vs. other costs don't encourage those who would be better teachers.

Just because someone dreams of working with kids, or being a vet doesn't mean they have the natural skills needed to do so, or that the training they receive is appropriate for the task. Too much of this is driven by emotions over statistics and policies backed by those emotionally/politically driven ties.

The U.S. already spends more per student than most other countries do, and we're behind many of them. This isn't a money problem it's a political one. From the publishing companies to churches, the teacher's unions and everyone opposed and in between. There is far too much politics in and out of the classroom. Kids need to learn that life isn't fair, not everyone wins, and that sometimes you will lose. That doesn't mean you give up and stop trying.

[mcv]

While having organized crime run lotteries is certainly bad, some of the examples of predatory advertising mentioned in the article are absolutely despicable and unworthy of a government.

If the government runs lotteries, it should only if they have ascertained that a total ban would send lottery players into the arms of organized crime, and government should only run those lotteries with the health of these addicts in mind, and not with any kind of profit motive.

Advertising should be of the form: "If you absolutely have to play a lottery, here's how to do it, but be aware that you will lose money and very likely not win anything", and certainly not of the form: "This could be your ticket out of this mess!"

[titfn]

completely agree