Analysis of Against the Odds and Against the Common Good

When most people play the lottery today, they think about having wealth. Generally, people who win are happy about it whether they win one dollar or a million. The lottery in our society has grown to support education and it is often worth several million dollars. Usually, the winner of the lottery gains a lot of recognition for the money they win. But what would happen if there was a small town where people held a yearly lottery in which the “winner” was the member of the town who was not sacrificed? This question is answered in Shirley Jackson’s short story, “The Lottery.” In reading this story, and reading literary criticism about the story, there were many symbols and much symbolism in this story.

The chances of winning a lottery have the same odds as being stuck by lighting on a clear day. Yet, the Alabama legislature is working on a bill that would offer its citizens the opportunity to vote for or against the lottery. Approving the lottery will not assure an answer to Alabama‘s economic problems or resolve problems the General Funds budget is facing. This writer’s purpose will provide reasons that a lottery is not a quick fix, and could create accumulating problems for the citizens Alabama.

While many citizens think that The Lottery should be banned, the majority does not and this is proven through the Lottery being put on ballots daily, and still being passed to this day by popular vote. Many critics admit that they have lost the debate on lottery, and that lawmakers across the country are coming to accept it (Gale). Another reason for this is that Lottery is played through choice, and is never forced upon people who don’t play. One misconception that many people think about The Lottery is that if you don’t win the large prize, you lose money (McGowan). This is not true because you are still able to win small prizes, and break even or have a positive net gain.

She starts the essay by claiming that many states use misleading slogans designed to encourage people to buy lottery tickets, but immediately after, five arguments are given that support state-run lotteries. The five arguments that support state-run lotteries are: people choose to participate by choice, funds are used for public services, heavier taxation will occur if lottery income disappears, the lotteries are run honestly by the government, and lotteries create jobs. Jimenez then begins to refute the five

The article that was written by Ingram is discussing the impact of the lottery system on the state of California. What he found, is that the system is targeted towards someone who is making $40 thousand per year. Moreover, he determined that a total of 34% of the proceeds goes directly towards public programs (i.e. education). This is troubling, as he is painting the picture of how the lottery system is designed to benefit low income households and minorities. The combination of these factors has created the impression that the state's lottery is nothing more than one giant Ponzi scheme (which is providing little to no benefit to the general public). (Ingram, 1999)

Shirley Jackson’s the Lottery (1991) is one of the most notable and valuable stories of modern literature. The story’s message continues to be resonate in contemporary fiction, showing the impact of a descriptive knowledge on human life, and also institutions

become a way of life or an answer to all problems. In fact, it enslaves people to yet another of Satan’s clever bondages and addictions. Sadly, even when the gambler wins (which is seldom), his winnings quickly disappear. Casinos don’t stay in business by losing. As someone said, “The trouble with hitting the jackpot on a slot machine is that it takes so long to put the money back into the machine.” Scripture warns, “Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathered by labour shall increase” (Proverbs 13:11). Furthermore, “Treasures of wickedness profit nothing” (Proverbs 10:2). 3. In the final analysis, gambling is no better than robbery and fraud. It offers a set of false hopes to people with certain predispositions and is known to especially prey on those who can least afford to lose but who ultimately do just that. In that sense its end result is no different than robbery. A number of studies on lottery play have found that ticket sales are greatest in low-income, urban areas. Per capita sales in inner city Detroit, for example, are three times higher than sales in the suburbs. Lottery sales have also been found to decline in areas where the level of education is higher.3 Two Duke University economists, Charles T. Clotfelter and Philip J. Cook, painstakingly documented the long-held suspicions that the poor and uneducated are the

The author speaks to a panel of 6 professionals varying from different backgrounds. The question, do the lottery have an economic benefit, was presented to each panelist. Two members of the panel asserted a positive outlook on the economic benefit of the lottery use of funds in education, public safety, public health to name few examples. Four members of the panel indicated that the lottery is considered a regressive tax on the poor. They strongly suggest that the lottery is not an effective means of revenue for the greater

Introducing the option of Nevada having a lottery has been enticing for many. Although lotteries might provide extra revenue for school, when one takes a deeper look into the facts, everyone loses.

But in America people are allowed to buy from a company like the lottery without freely without limitations according to law. A lottery ticket such as a scratch off might buy some free time for someone or maybe they like playing a certain game on the lottery, everyone has a different reason for playing is the point. With proceeds going back into state programs and reducing the amount and number of taxes for people, it’s too good to resist the lottery’s upsides for states no matter what the situation is. Trying to get rid of the lottery at this point in America’s existence wouldn’t be logical when how much it’s involved with all across the nation. The lottery’s effect on individuals in america goes beyond what the typical mainstreamed mind may think. The way the lottery contributes back to its states proves it’s not just a business in it for themselves, rather distributing some funds around to aid financial problematics for some programs and reward very lucky winners their share of

People who are uneducated about the lottery look down upon it. Mainly people believe it is nothing but a scam along with an addictive way rush that can drain away all of the players money. Apart from personal enjoyment and hope, lotteries give back and support their communities. Nation wide states need the support of its people before creating a lottery. California’s State Lottery was erected due to the promises of giving back and supporting statewide education. California recently passed a bill stating that eighty seven percent of sales generated through the lottery will go back to the public through prizes and contributions to education – leaving the rest to government expenses. Lotteries are not brought to states for the purposes of cheating and corrupting the people; they are intact to

In the United States, lotteries are coordinated by the legislature amid the colonial and revolutionary period to raise assets which would be used to support infrastructure, bridges and schools. Amid the post-civil war, Congress authorized a progression of preventive policies which banned lottery activities. From 1895 to 1963, each state banned lotteries and vetoed them as a source of compensation. Consequently, in 1963, the state lottery was reinstated as a government, enterprise and an origin of income by the state of New Hampshire. In many states the administration runs the lottery as an imposing business model on a substantial scale for organized gambling. The only legal competition that the lottery has, is with other state governments,

Both writers touch on the controversial topic of taxes. One claims Lotteries as being a "voluntary tax" which in turns helps lower local income tax, and sales taxes. To support these claims the writer uses statistics from North Carolina as an example, as well as a quote from Thomas Jefferson. Whereas the opposing article from the 16th claims that only the miniscule amount of 25% of every dollar actually goes to the state governments, And furthermore, that the lottery in

Emily Haisley. Dr. Haisley does not believe the lottery is beneficial to impoverished people. The study, she conducted was “based on a survey that made people feel poor or middle to upper class. The participant in the experimental group had to pick their salary in increments of $100,000, the control group had to pick their salary in increments of $10,000. The experimental group purchased twice as many lottery tickets as the control group. This study was conducted twice and yielded similar results” (Haisley). She does acknowledge the fact that the lottery is a great source of federal revenue, therefore, the lottery will not be going anywhere (Haisley). She states that “The lottery is a vicious cycle that exploits impoverished people’s desire to escape poverty, but also depleting their financial state” (Haisley). With this information we are able to see that if a person feels like they have a lower-income than their peers or society, then they are more likely to invest their money into the lottery. With this investment they are hoping to escape the low-income title and lifestyle. A large percentage of people are living in poverty and dealing with

A lottery is a form of legalized government gambling that involves the drawing of numbers for a prize. There are so many forms of gambling and lotteries such as the lotto, scratch-off instant games, raffles, the power ball, and the dailies. Other forms of gambling could be playing bingo or going to the casino. I don’t agree with lotteries and gambling. I think lotteries and gambling, in general, is a bad idea because you lose money, it’s addictive, could lead to alcohol problems, cause you to use poor decision-making skills, and it is a sin.