Playing the lottery? Stop. Just don't do it

The next time you consider buying a lottery ticket, don’t. Stop supporting a system based on empty promises and misguided dreams. With almost three decades of lottery history in Minnesota, it is clear that the promise to provide extra funding for the environment has not been delivered. The lottery is hurting people, and the money isn’t going where we thought it would. Continuing it is immoral and unethical.

The Legislature introduced us to the lottery in 1989. The idea was sold as a voluntary, supplemental source of revenue for otherwise-underfunded environmental causes. That’s right — “voluntary.” What could it hurt to let people contribute to the environment? We Minnesotans are proud of our support of education, social progress and environmental sensitivity.

http://www.startribune.com/playing-the-lottery-stop-just-don-t-do-it/368248071/