A lottery is an arrangement in which prizes are allocated by a process that depends wholly on chance. Such arrangements can be used for military conscription, commercial promotions in which property is given away through a random procedure, or to choose members of a jury. Lotteries can also be organized to distribute state funds, such as those that give away college scholarships or support the construction of public buildings. The word lottery is derived from the Latin “latum” meaning “fate”.
State-run lotteries are immensely popular, and despite the fact that they are a form of gambling, they enjoy broad public approval. The reason, says researcher David Clotfelter and coauthor John Cook, is that the proceeds of the games are usually designated to a particular public good, such as education. This argument is especially effective in times of fiscal stress, when people fear a rise in taxes or cuts in public programs. But the argument is also persuasive in cases when the state’s financial condition is strong and there is little prospect of increased taxation or cuts in government spending.
The lottery’s enduring popularity may be due to its inextricable link with human greed and the desire to win. The prize amounts of the major lotteries are often enormous and eye-catching, and people who play them buy the tickets because they believe that they have a chance to win them. Billboards advertising the jackpots of the big national games dangle the promise of instant wealth and, in an age of inequality and limited social mobility, appeal to people’s base desires.
In the seventeenth century, the English colonists adopted the lottery as a means of raising money for town fortifications and other projects. The lottery’s popularity spread throughout the colonies, despite the strict Protestant prohibition against gambling and other forms of entertainment. Private lotteries were also widespread as a way to raise capital for various projects, including the building of colleges. Benjamin Franklin sponsored one during the American Revolution to raise funds for cannons, and Thomas Jefferson held a private lottery in 1826 to alleviate crushing debts.
Today, the state-run lotteries are a large and profitable industry, attracting millions of players who purchase numbered tickets for a small sum of money to win large prizes such as cars and houses. The games are widely advertised on television and radio, and the profits help fund public services, such as education. However, they can also have negative consequences for the poor and problem gamblers, and the question is whether such promotion of gambling serves a legitimate function for a modern society. The story titled ‘lottery’ presents the evil nature of human beings, who condone certain acts with less consideration for their negative impact on others. It also highlights the hypocrisy of people who merely follow their culture and do not try to change these practices. Moreover, this story portrays the cyclical nature of poverty and its negative impacts on human life. It is important to recognize and change the cycle of poverty.
