EDITORIAL: Lottery can make a difference in Alabama if it's tied to scholarships, community service

James Bennett, The Anniston Star, Ala.
·4 min read

May 5—Savvy politicians have embraced the idea of using state lotteries to fund college scholarships and encourage community service.

The lottery attracts the poor and underserved more than anyone else. They should reap the benefits with programs and ideas designed to improve their lives.

kAmx7 E96 p=232>2 =68:D=2EFC6 6>3C246D 82>3=:?8[ 2D 6IA64E65 :? E96 7:?2= 52JD @7 E9:D J62C'D D6DD:@?[ E96 >@?6J 42? >26=J E@ E96 DE2E6'D 4@==686D 2?5 F?:G6CD:E:6D[ ;F?:@C 4@==686D 2?5 E649?:42= D49@@=D]k^Am

kAm%F:E:@? 2E p=232>2'D DE2E6 F?:G6CD:E:6D :D =@H6C E92? >@DE DE2E6D[ 3FE :E'D DE:== 2 >2;@C 9FC5=6 :? CFC2= 2C62D =:256 2 "DEF56?E\7:CDE" A=6586[ 256 DEF56?ED E96 46?E6CA:646 @7 9:D :?2F8FC2= 255C6DD =2DE >@?E9]k^Am

kAm"u@C E9:D ?6IE 492AE6C @7 F?:G6CD:EJ 9:DE@CJ — E96 E:>6 H6 92G6 E@86E96C E@ >2A24E @? y$& — =6E'D 5@F3=6 5@H? @? @FC C6AFE2E:@? 2D 2 DEF56?E\46?E6C65 :?DE:EFE:@? 2?5 >2:?2E:?8 32CC:6CD E@ 2446DD @FC E@A AC:@C:E:6D[" E96 AC6D:56?E D2:5]k^Am

kAmvC@HE9 :D ?@E A@DD:3=6 H:E9 92=7\962CE65 =6256CD9:A :? |@?E8@>6CJ 2?5 7:?2?4:2==J DEC2AA65 DEF56?ED @? F?:G6CD:EJ 42>AFD6D] {6E'D ;F>A :? H:E9 3@E9 766E :7 2 =@EE6CJ A2DD6D 2?5 G@E6CD 6?5@CD6 :E]k^Am

kAmw@H :D E9:D 7@C 3@=5n tG6CJ 8C25F2E:?8 D6?:@C :? p=232>2 H9@ A6C7@C>D 4@>>F?:EJ D6CG:46 D9@F=5 36 AC@>:D65 EH@ J62CD @7 7C66 EF:E:@? F?56C 2?J =@EE6CJ AC@A@D2=] }6H DEF56?ED D9@F=5 36 23=6 E@ 49@@D6 H96C6 E96J H2?E E@ 8@[ H96E96C E92E'D 2 DE2CE:?8 2E 7@FC\J62C DE2E6 D49@@=[ 4@>A=6E:?8 2 EH@\J62C 4@>>F?:EJ 4@==686 568C66 @C 4@>A=6E:?8 2 D9@CE6C G@42E:@?2= AC@8C2>]k^Am

kAmrC:E:4D H:== 2C8F6 E92E >2?J H:== 5C@A @FE 2?5 E2 E@ 62C? 2 5:A=@>2 2?5 8@ 324E@ E96:C 9@>6E@H?D H:E9 8C62E6C ;@3 AC@DA64ED] %96 :?G6DE>6?E H:== A2J 7@C :ED6=7 H:E9 9:896C :?4@>6D]k^Am

kAm%96 AF3=:4 D6CG:46 4@>A@?6?E D9@F=5 ?@E 36 F?56C6DE:>2E65] sFC:?8 E96 A2?56>:4[ ?@?AC@7:ED 2?5 @E96C 8C@FAD H9@ ?665 G@=F?E66CD 92G6 DF776C65 :>>6?D6=J]k^Am

kAmw:89 D49@@= D6?:@CD H9@ 2AA=J 7@C =@EE6CJ D49@=2CD9:AD >FDE 92G6 :E E:65 E@ 2 AF3=:4 D6CG:46 4@>A@?6?E 367@C6 E96J 8C25F2E6] t:89E E@ '_ 9@FCD :D ?@E E@@ >F49 E@ 2DA=6E6 2?@E96C 6:89E E@ '_ 9@FCD 367@C6 E96:C D64@?5 J62C @7 4@==686 @C H@C2 DF>>6C ;@3 :? @C56C E@ @?6J]k^Am

kAm%96 :562 @7 D6CG:?8 E96 4@>>F?:EJ :D ?@E9:?8 ?6H] $@>6 9:89 D49@@= 8C25F2E6D H@F=5 36?67:E 7C@> 2 J62C @7 4@>>F?:EJ D6CG:46 367@C6 8@:?8 E@ 4@==686] xE H@F=5 96=A E96> 7:?5 5:C64E:@? 2?5 F?56CDE2?5 H92E E96J'C6 H@CD6=G6D[ E96:C DE2E6 2?5 ?2E:@?]k^Am

kAm{@EE6CJ 7F?5D DFC6=J 4@F=5 36 FD65 E@ A=2J 7@C 2 7@FC\J62C 65F42E:@? 7@C 2?J@?6 H9@ 565:42E6D 2 J62C E@ 4@>>F?:EJ D6CG:46 :? p=232>2]k^Am

kAmp=232>2 :D 2E 2 4C@DDC@25D 7@C :>AC@G:?8 E96 =:G6D @7 E9@FD2?5D @7 DEF56?ED :7 :E 2AAC@G6D 2 =@EE6CJ 2?5 62C>2C[ 3FE :7 :E'D A:E4965 E@ E96> :? E96 C:89E H2J[ 2== @7 FD H:== D66 36?67:ED]k^Am

James Bennett is Executive Editor. Contact him at 256-235-3540 or jbennett@annistonstar.com.