The Lottery

You know what grinds my gears? The lottery.

I live in North Carolina. The lottery is relatively new here because conservative Christians successfully kept it out of the state in previous attempts to bring it in. However, we slacked off during the last attempt so now it has been successfully placed down the street from every free-loader in the state. Why does it grind my gears? A number of reasons.

First and most obvious, it is a most dishonorable trait to be too lazy to work for one's money. The lottery caters to those who want free money and do not want to work to get it. The reversal of fortunes comes from hard work and determination, not from the states tax on people who are bad at math.

Second, it amplifies the notoriety of unfavorable persons. An example: I was speaking with my friend's dad the other week. He has observed that within the 4 years of his living in his community, the two convenience stores near his house had only been robbed 3 times. Each of these three times were within the past year...the year that NC got its lottery. Coincidence? Perhaps. However, it is plausible that the lottery increases the free-loader's lust for money beyond the point of spending their last dime on tickets, to the point where they want to get that last dime back - as well as other free-loaders' last dimes - via robbery.

Third, many who want a free handout neglect the needs of their family in order to get it. This of course is not true for all people who play the lotto, but now the lottery gives Mr. X an opportunity to not only neglect his family's needs in order to have booze money, but also so that he can have lotto money. All along Mr. X's kids are putting their hope in a handout that will never come instead of trusting that daddy will work hard to bring home the bacon.

And last but not least, because of this lottery, I have to wait 10 additional minutes each time I go to a convenience store because there never fails to be several indecisive lotto buyers in front of me in line. "I want number 9, no wait, number 8."

"That will be 6 dollars."

"6 dollars?! Put number 8 back and give me number 7."

Here daddy can't decide on which lottery ticket to buy and all along the kids are at home, "Mommy, I'm hungry."

The lottery grinds my gears.