It's As Fair As Gambling Can Be

The people and voters, of Memphis Tennessee. Have finally discovered that the lottery, is not what they expected. There have been charges, of discrimination and disproportionate awarding. In regards to the disbursement of lottery funded scholarships. Blacks say Whites benefit unequally. Since Shelby county is it's biggest customer, and it has a majority Black population. That just indicates a mixup of priorities. It probably has more to do with the racial breakdown of the state. Than some farfetched racial conspiracy. Let's look at the official census numbers, before we jump to premature conclusions. Below are the most up to date statistics available. These are the state and national census statistics, up until the year 2005. Based on the previous population history. Just add about 27,000 residents to the state census numbers. About 6500 of them being under eighteen years of age. That should put you in line with the present demographics.

When we depend on gambling to pay for furthering education. In my personal opinion we're in deep trouble. Some of those people complaining about the program. Instead of investing in the lottery. They should invest in their own children's education. They want to reduce the grade point requirement from 3.0 to 2.5. In order to make the scholarship easier to get. That would defeat the purpose. It's supposed to be competitive. If you look at the numbers it is disproportionate. Only not as accused. Blacks make up less than 20% of the population. Yet they receive more than 20% of the scholarships. The losing party always has a complaint. I don't think they're cheating, anymore than allowed. The house always wins.


People Quick Facts

Tennessee
USA

Population, 2005 estimate
5,962,959
296,410,404

Population, percent change, April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2005
4.8%
5.3%

Population, 2000
5,689,283
281,421,906

Population, percent change, 1990 to 2000
16.7%
13.1%

Persons under 5 years old, percent, 2004
6.5%
6.8%

Persons under 18 years old, percent, 2004
23.6%
25.0%

Persons 65 years old and over, percent, 2004
12.5%
12.4%

Female persons, percent, 2004
51.1%
50.8%


White persons, percent, 2004 (a)
80.7%
80.4%

Black persons, percent, 2004 (a)
16.8%
12.8%

American Indian and Alaska Native persons, percent, 2004 (a)
0.3%
1.0%

Asian persons, percent, 2004 (a)
1.2%
4.2%

Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, percent, 2004 (a)
0.0%
0.2%

Persons reporting two or more races, percent, 2004
0.9%
1.5%

Persons of Hispanic or Latino origin, percent, 2004 (b)
2.8%
14.1%

White persons, not Hispanic, percent, 2004
78.1%
67.4%

I gave you the latest USA census figures first. Here are the numbers for the actual Hope scholarship. It further proves my assumption. Look and tell me what you think.


2005-2006 HOPE Scholarship


applicants by Ethnicity Awardees by Ethnicity Awards

Black 59,992 1,831 $5,599,126.00
White 160,967 24,978 $73,646,113.63
All Other 28,396 1,289 $3,861,602.00

2005-2006 HOPE Access Grant


Black 59,992 96 $219,000.00
White 160,967 173 $348,134.00
All Other 28,396 31 $67,050.00

2005-2006 Wilder-Naifeh Technical Skills Grant


Black 59,992 2,471 $3,028,353.00
White 160,967 9.279 $10,916,266.00
All Other 28,396 1,599 $1,937,471.00