Thursday, February 09, 2006
Furry and Fuzzy Things Lottery
Does it depress anyone but me that good causes seem more and more drawn to gambling to finance their pet causes?
And, speaking of pet causes, the latest idea is a scratch-off lottery with the proceeds going to endangered species, humane education and cats and dogs. House Bill 4363 is now on the House, sponsored by Rep. Tom Holbrook (D-Belleville). The bill, or course, will pass and Governor Rod Blagojevich will sign it at a pet shelter.
I passed the Non-Game Wildlife Check-Off bill my last term in the General Assembly during the 1970’s, only to see Governor Jim Thompson veto it, so my criticism is not intended as a slap at the entities that would receive the money. (The next term, State Rep. Virginia Macdonald of Arlington Heights got Thompson to sign it.)
But, won’t these lottery tickets be attractive to children? Do we really want kids to think that success is dependent on luck, instead of hard work?
