Illinois math

http://www.nwherald.com/2011/11/25/state-reaping-less-from-lottery-in-new-fiscal-year/alruvan/

       I don't normally begin with a link, but if you want to read the whole thing here you go.  Headlines are all something like: State Lottery revenues down for fiscal year.  Something like that.  Here are some excerpts.  I am using the one from my newspaper, but it was an Associated Press article, so it was everywhere.

       "The state's share of Illinois Lottery revenue dropped in three of the first four months of the fiscal year compared to the same period last year"

We are then assured this is only temporary.

"The state last year chose Northstar Lottery Group as the Illinois Lottery's first-ever private manager, promising that sales – and therefore the state's share of revenue – would increase."

A little history is presented. The comedic potential builds. Then the punchline:

"Northstar CEO Connie Laverty O'Connor said total sales are up 12 percent and instant ticket sales are up 23 percent, compared to last year"

This is odd since the State's revenues are down... Some clarification please.

"O'Connor said the company still is paying expenses incurred last spring for advertising and equipment as it prepared to take over."

So a state lottery, which has existed for decades, needed advertising and equipment? Perhaps I don't fully understand. Perhaps there is full disclosure, and this is the truth.
William of Occam was a 14th century philosopher who is credited with a bit of logic we all know and love, even if we don't know the name. Occam's razor states that the simplest solution is probably correct. What would the simplest solution be here in the land of Honest Abe Lincoln? Let's read further...

"Reports show the state's share of lottery revenue dropped by $2 million in July, to $41 million; by $4 million in August, to $35 million; and by $6 million October, to $49 million. It rose by $6 million, to $59 million, in September."

       So down 2M, down 4M, down 6M, and up 6M. -2+ -4 + -6 + 6 = -6. The state of Illinois is down a net of 6 million dollars, in a year when total sales are up 12%. The article does not state what the total sales were however. But hey this is the internet folks. 3,2,1...

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/illinois-lottery-breaks-new-sales-record-in-fiscal-year-2011-127726788.html

here is a good block quote...

"The Illinois Lottery ended fiscal year 2011 on June 30, with another record-breaking year – its ninth consecutive year of increasing sales. During fiscal year 2011, which ran from July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011, the Lottery generated $2.278 billion in sales, an increase of 3% over last year. Over the past five-year period, since fiscal year 2007, Lottery sales have increased by more than 11%. "

You read that right. Another record year. 2.278 Billion, with a B, in annual sales. And the states share is 41M + 35M + 49M + 59M = 184 Million.

http://www.illinoislottery.com/subsections/news01.htm

The lottery's own page says that 58 cent of every dollar is paid as prizes, the state gets 30 cent, 7 cent is for retailer/ vendor commissions and bonuses, and 5 cent for administrative costs.

Some math, and some double checking later and we have, assuming the total sales of 2.278 billion, as reported: Total prize payout 1,321,240,000. (1.32124 B) Admin costs of 113,900,000 (113.9 M) Vendor take as 159,460,000 (159.46 M) and the State's share as 683,400,000 (683.4 M).

I may not know how to use the square root of -1 in an equation, but I know that 683.4 Million is a hell of a lot more than 184 million. 499.4 Million to be exact. That is 499,400,000 missing from the State's share. I think that the news needs to dig a bit deeper on this one. Why are we not gathering torches and pitchforks, and marching on Springfield? Corruption in Illinois is a big friggin' joke. It's funny too: right up until you realize who it's being played on.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/26/illinois-budget-watchdog-_n_981882.html

"In a statement announcing the report, Laurence Msall, Civic Federation president, described the state's recent budget process as "somewhat improved" over recent years, as the annual gap between revenue and expenses was significantly reduced -- from $3.9 billion to $454 million."

So the amount that the state is short is 45.4 million LESS than what they were shorted by the lottery.  

THAT IS A SURPLUS OF 45.4 MILLION.  Now that may not seem like much when the deficit is 8+ billion, but if each year we take in more than we spend we get out of the hole.  Instead, we are crawling further in.  

All numbers reported are as presented by Northstar lottery group and the Illinois lottery. All derivations are mine, so feel free to double check them. I did twice. All anger, ire, rage, and revolution should be directed toward the State of Illinois.

http://www2.illinois.gov/Pages/ContactUs.aspx

That's the address above. Please let them know how you feel. And remember this crap come the next election. Remind me: I'll re-run this post.

Welcome to Illinois, your vote doesn't count.

       I feel compelled to do some coat tugging about a subject near and dear to me.  The fact that my vote, and the majority vote in my district, means absolutely nothing.  You see, McHenry county has always been a Republican county.  Odd in Illinois.  Especially this close to the Peoples Republic of Chicago (Thanks Gobbie).  Now the election before last, a Democrat was elected because the man filling the seat was... worthless.  (trying not to curse) He was the stereotype of a Republican and worse, didn't show up to his job.  Sadly, the woman voted in to replace him was just as bad.  So last election we found ourselves with a hotly contested race with a dark horse Republican eventually winning.  In fact they won a few seats out here.
       But this being Illinois, the majority party in the state creates the districts, and this is a redistricting year.  They made no pretense about ethnic, or socio-economic shifts.  They flagrantly Gerrymandered the districts to put the freshmen Republicans in other districts, against incumbent Republicans for the next elections.  So no matter who wins the Republicans will lose some seats.  This is Chicago machine politics at its lowest.
       I apologize to any Democrats who may chance upon this as it does not paint a pretty picture of the party.  I do not mean to identify these corrupt toadies with any persons who simply have a politically left ideology.  The Illinois machine is not a fair representation of the Democrats.  It is an analogue of the dark ages in Europe.  People kept intentionally poor, ignorant, and powerless.  Being told it is their lot in life and someone else's fault.  And being victimized by the very people purporting to help them.  But I digress...
       Back to McHenry.  The people have voted.  a narrow majority in one race, and a wide one in many others, chose to have Republicans represent them.  Their votes are being subverted by a corrupt power-brokering machine.  You need not side with the right or left to see that when this happens the people's will is not being acted on.  The people of this county do not have a say in their own affairs.  I would say we should annex to Wisconsin, (I actually have said that before), but given their current climate, I want no truck with that either.  I'm trying to remember; what did people here do the last time an oppressive government subverted their will?