Trotwood taps into lottery winnings

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By Doug Page, Staff Writer 3:32 PM Wednesday, January 6, 2010

The state lottery was never intended to make you rich.

Sorry to dash your dreams. You’re more likely to be struck by lightning while standing atop the Englewood water tower holding aloft a 10-foot steel pole than you are of cashing in a nine-figure lottery check.

Nope, the state lottery was intended to separate you from your money under the guise of entertainment and funding public education.

As to the former, whatever floats your boat.

The “funding of public education,” on the other hand, was one of the slickest political shuck-and-jives our august legislators ever perpetrated on their constituents. Most constituents thought lottery proceeds would increase education funding. Rather, for every dollar that comes from the lottery to education, a dollar of state funding to education disappears back into the state treasury.

Zero-sum game, I believe they call it. Sort of like three-card monte, a noted street con game.

Now some will argue the lottery brings ”hope” to folks. Perhaps there are two kinds of hope.

When a farmer tills his field, plants his corn, puts down his fertilizer and weed control, he’s hoping the growing season will bring the right amount of rain and sun. He or she have done all they could to guarantee a chance of a harvest. Now it’s up to a higher power.

When you pin your hopes on the turn of the card, the roll of the dice, or half a dozen numbered ping pong balls, you’ve done little or nothing to guarantee a chance of success — except rely on the whim of a higher power.

Which takes us — at last — to the Trotwood City Council’s 4-3 vote last week to impose the city’s 2.25 percent income tax on lottery winnings. The three voting against the measure believed the tax would be onerous on winners, given the state and federal taxes winners already pay.

I would disagree. Perhaps, I admit, out of jealousy. I’ve never won, which does not at all seem fair.

I figure, you pays your money, you takes your chances, you pays your taxes.

Nuff said.

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