Lotteries
This topic comes up every time the lottery jackpot gets above $100 million.
I can't stand lotteries. I think that lotteries are for suckers, and I think
that people who play lotteries are idiots.
I know that sounds harsh, but it is how I feel. My favorite statement that
typifies how I feel about lotteries is "Lotteries are a tax on people who can't do math."
Lotteries are an evil that plays on the desires of the typical person who wants more than they have. Most people want something better than they have now. That in and of itself is not wrong or evil. We should all aspire to have more than we have now. To want to grow and aspire to more than we are now is good, is the way that humanity reaches for the stars and makes the world a better place.
Where lotteries go wrong is that they promise the impossible, and make is sound likely. Who hasn't asked themselves "What would you do with a million dollars"? And most have great answers, selfless and generous and altruistic. But lotteries play on that and say 'What would you do with 10, 25, 50 and 100 million dollars?' They build up that dream to unrealistic levels and promise everyone a chance, a slim chance, but a chance none the less. It is the ultimate get rich quick scheme. But we won't call it a scheme, because the government gets it piece and sanctions it, so it is a game. At least with the legal get rich schemes, if you work hard enough, and have the right
stuff*, you can earn the money.
The odds of winning a lottery are staggering. The chances are so small it is hard to explain. There isn't a good way to show how very small the chances are. The chances of winning a multi-state powerball type lottery are 1 in 76 million.
See explaination. From 1946 to 1966
76 million people were born in the USA. (the baby boomer generation) That would be like putting all those people in a room and picking ONE of them at random. The distance from the earth to the sun is 92 million miles. The chance of selecting the correct sequence of numbers are truly astronomical.
And for what, a lot of money. A ton of money. More money that any one person could possiblly spend. (At least that is what is seems like...) What actually happens to the winners.
But do you really get all that money...
Nope. At best you will get almost half of it. Roughly 40% goes to Federal Taxes. And depending on
where you live you can lose 10-15% more to local taxes. So lets be generous, you will probably get
50% of the jackpot. So we inflate your dreams with the promise of the huge payoff, and immediately take back half.
So what have we learned from this. Well if you are like most of the millions who plunk down money each week, nothing. If you have been paying attention, then winning a lottery is next to impossible. And if you win, nothing really changes. You may have more money; not as much as you think; but it doesn't make you happier.
For me and my money, I would rather focus on the here and now. Work on being happy with what I have. Work on expanding and growing my life in ways that are more tried and true. Spend my money on things and people that will bring this to pass directly. Not waste it on a pipe dream that can't really happen.
I don't begrudge those who actually buy the tickets, I just think that it is a waste of time and money and energy to hope for something as improbably as winning a million (or 100 million) bucks by buying a ticket. Your chances of getting bitten by a shark are greater than winning the lottery. But you can't get bitten if you don't go in the water. Meaning I can't win the lottery if I don't play. And I don't play so I won't win. But I wouldn't win anyway, and if I did win, I wouldn't win what they promised me when I bought the ticket. But even if I win, and I only get half, it won't change my life much and it won't make me a happier person. I can be a happier person by working on me. I can change my life by working on improving a skill or getting an education. All things that I have real control over.
Enough, I am starting to ramble.
--*The right stuff is defined as lots of charisma, a knack for selling yourself and some other item.
later
I can't stand lotteries. I think that lotteries are for suckers, and I think
that people who play lotteries are idiots.
I know that sounds harsh, but it is how I feel. My favorite statement that
typifies how I feel about lotteries is "Lotteries are a tax on people who can't do math."
Lotteries are an evil that plays on the desires of the typical person who wants more than they have. Most people want something better than they have now. That in and of itself is not wrong or evil. We should all aspire to have more than we have now. To want to grow and aspire to more than we are now is good, is the way that humanity reaches for the stars and makes the world a better place.
Where lotteries go wrong is that they promise the impossible, and make is sound likely. Who hasn't asked themselves "What would you do with a million dollars"? And most have great answers, selfless and generous and altruistic. But lotteries play on that and say 'What would you do with 10, 25, 50 and 100 million dollars?' They build up that dream to unrealistic levels and promise everyone a chance, a slim chance, but a chance none the less. It is the ultimate get rich quick scheme. But we won't call it a scheme, because the government gets it piece and sanctions it, so it is a game. At least with the legal get rich schemes, if you work hard enough, and have the right
stuff*, you can earn the money.
The odds of winning a lottery are staggering. The chances are so small it is hard to explain. There isn't a good way to show how very small the chances are. The chances of winning a multi-state powerball type lottery are 1 in 76 million.
See explaination. From 1946 to 1966
76 million people were born in the USA. (the baby boomer generation) That would be like putting all those people in a room and picking ONE of them at random. The distance from the earth to the sun is 92 million miles. The chance of selecting the correct sequence of numbers are truly astronomical.
And for what, a lot of money. A ton of money. More money that any one person could possiblly spend. (At least that is what is seems like...) What actually happens to the winners.
- One third of winners end up bankrupt. Link
- Wealth brings unhappiness. Link
- Winners are no more or less happy afterward.
Link
Link 2
But do you really get all that money...
Nope. At best you will get almost half of it. Roughly 40% goes to Federal Taxes. And depending on
where you live you can lose 10-15% more to local taxes. So lets be generous, you will probably get
50% of the jackpot. So we inflate your dreams with the promise of the huge payoff, and immediately take back half.
So what have we learned from this. Well if you are like most of the millions who plunk down money each week, nothing. If you have been paying attention, then winning a lottery is next to impossible. And if you win, nothing really changes. You may have more money; not as much as you think; but it doesn't make you happier.
For me and my money, I would rather focus on the here and now. Work on being happy with what I have. Work on expanding and growing my life in ways that are more tried and true. Spend my money on things and people that will bring this to pass directly. Not waste it on a pipe dream that can't really happen.
I don't begrudge those who actually buy the tickets, I just think that it is a waste of time and money and energy to hope for something as improbably as winning a million (or 100 million) bucks by buying a ticket. Your chances of getting bitten by a shark are greater than winning the lottery. But you can't get bitten if you don't go in the water. Meaning I can't win the lottery if I don't play. And I don't play so I won't win. But I wouldn't win anyway, and if I did win, I wouldn't win what they promised me when I bought the ticket. But even if I win, and I only get half, it won't change my life much and it won't make me a happier person. I can be a happier person by working on me. I can change my life by working on improving a skill or getting an education. All things that I have real control over.
Enough, I am starting to ramble.
--*The right stuff is defined as lots of charisma, a knack for selling yourself and some other item.
later