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Lotteries: A Tax on the Poor
Call me a kill-joy, but I won’t play
As the MegaMillions game approached the billion dollar prize level, the line outside the convenience store grew exponentially. Talk of the upcoming drawing of the numbers saturated the news.
My stomach was churning. I was watching hardworking people, including my husband, spending $50 or more every few days on tickets, caught up in lottery fever.
My husband, a wonderful, caring individual wanted me to share in his excitement. I just couldn’t. I know that lotteries are a tax on the poor.
I understand how hard it is for most people to resist taking a chance at the big prize. But for many, it’s not just one chance, one ticket. It’s more likely hundreds of dollars that will leave them struggling to cover rent and food until their next paycheck.
Araci Almeida just shared a heartfelt story on this topic.
My intention is not to criticize those who get caught up in lottery fever. A quote from the above article perfectly expresses my feelings (thank you…
