Editor’s Column: Last time I checked …

In fourth grade I coveted a pair of white leather Nike sneakers with the red “swoosh.” They cost $40, which my parents insisted was a ridiculous price for a pair of children’s shoes. Desperate to “fit in,” I sent $2 in cash to my aunt in Louisville, Ky., and asked her to bet on the horses at Churchill Downs. By sheer luck, I picked the right horse and my $2 bet won me $40. I…