Lottery a Waste

Am I the only person who views the lottery as a colossal mistake?

Every time I see a television ad for the lottery or Lotto during prime time and think of the amount of money being spent to tempt people to waste their money, I am very angry.

Would we permit drug dealers to advertise to addicts? The tone of the lottery ads is very seductive and lures people to throw their money away. The chances of winning are less than being hit by lightning, yet individuals who know they will never be hit by lightning truly believe they have a chance to win millions.

The people voted for the lottery because they thought it would help our schools. This has not happened. Is it because the state reduced the education budget by the amount expected from the lottery?

The schools are not benefitting from the lottery enough to make up for people who are gambling with money they cannot afford to lose.

PEGGY CHAMBERLAIN, San Diego