Lottery Opponents Pick Losing Number
The Gambling Free Tennessee Alliance is waging its battle against the proposed state lottery largely on moral grounds - summed up as "It's bad for the poor" - but they are getting nowhere. Opposition to the lottery is down 2-1 in the polls, and fundraising is lackluster at best. The lottery appears likely to pass.

WLAC radio talk show host Phil Valentine thinks they could've done better by building the case as one of restraining government growth. A lottery grows the size of government. I agree.

As the still-simmering Tennessee tax revolt has shown, the people are not willing to pay for larger government. Yet the proposed Tennessee lottery will create a university scholarship entitlement that will soon outstrip the meager revenues generated by the lottery. It happened in Georgia, the state lottery Tennessee lottery supporters most often cite as the model for their hoped-for state lottery.

At that point, Big Government will be at your door, demanding more taxes. And, if you voted for the lottery, it will be your fault.