To The Editor, Farragut Press-Times

It has been claimed by proponents for a state lottery that the proceeds from a lottery will be used to fund college scholarships or teacher pay raises. If only that were the truth, then maybe it wouldn't be so bad. But in truth, the lottery is a fraud, plain and simple.

I myself have never bought a lottery ticket nor do I ever intend to. Ultimately, people will decide for themselves if they want to buy a ticket or play slot machines. But if these people are going to vote for a lottery because they think it will be used to fund education, they are woefully mislead. The proponents try to make us believe that the lottery funds are going specifically towards education. They play on the fact that most people do not realize that the money is never earmarked. They go into the general treasury fund. It is only after the fact, that the legislature would decide how to spend the money. It may be in part for teacher pay raises. It may be to buy UT football tickets. But always remember: the funds are not earmarked in any way. Why should we give our government a blank check when they have demonstrated that they can't handle the money we give them already?

It is due to this nonsense that I will be voting this November. As far as the gubernatorial race is concerned, I'm voting for independent (Libertarian) candidate Ray Ledford.

Chris Fortner

Knoxville