www.examiner.com - Toronto City Buzz

Lotteries are a huge source of income, but where are the millions if not billions of dollars going and into who's pocket? It would be quite interesting to be informed of the exact totals. Think of all the lotteries that are available, the daily, weekly games that can be played. The amounts must be incredible. Why then do the citizens have to deal with, increases in transportation, congested roads, decaying buildings, homeless wondering the streets or huge wait times in hospitals. Government is always saying, there is no money. Really? If lotteries are such a huge source of funds, why can't they create source specific lottery opportunities. Create a lottery game which all the funds minus "costs" got to that specific need. Illness specific, roads specific, etc. Considering this being the first day of school, what about education? Walk through a random selection of Secondary Collegiate's in this city and you will realize how useful this suggestion would be. Everyone likes the atmosphere of an established environment however, it becomes quite a concern when you realize these building are in such disarray. Who doesn't enjoy walking through the halls of their former school, remembering what went on in those halls and classrooms. What's disturbing however, is seeing the dent you put into that locker 30 years ago, still there, the broken walls, faded chalk boards, cracked ceilings and boarded up rooms. Don't you think an Education lottery game would generate more than enough money to not only pay to fix these problems but also pay for Teachers, school supplies, equipment, special needs, sports, music, art, pools and repair? It seems quite logical but yet there is never a suggestion to do so. With all this money going into the Governments pocket, why don't "we the people" benefit form any of it in a manner in which we feel we are doing so, HST anyone?. We are always told there isn't enough, although millions if not billions are readily available for those in need in other countries the second an unfortunate disaster trikes. It is time the lottery corporation thought outside the box, or at least increase the odds of actually winning so we can perhaps in our own little way, do the job for them.