Volume 2
Issue # 3
May 12, 2002
"Have you bought your ticket yet?"
I'm sure you've heard the buzz by now. First it was a MERE 22 million dollars . . . and nobody won it. So, the jackpot is bumped to an insane $24 million. That jackpot attracted not only the media's attention, but has captured the imagination of all Canadians from all walks of life. And still, no winner. Now, after two weeks of heartbreak and could've-beens, the jackpot has increased to a mind-boggling $34 million. Granted that pales in comparison to the PowerBall draws of our neighbours to the south, but can you imagine what you could do with $34 million?
Our society is a strange one. Margaret Tse, a fellow Tupper graduate, once sent me a link to "A Conversation with God." In there, an interesting observation is made: We sacrifice health in search of wealth, only to forfeit all of this wealth to regain our health in our old age. Such an insight seems so appropriate for our society especially. Even from a very young age, little children are asked, "So, what do you want to be when you grow up?" "A firefighter!" "A doctor!" . . . but there is always that kid (i.e., me) who would exclaim, "I want to be rich."
Fast forward to when that kid grows up and has a chance to 'make it.' In the movie Boiler Room, starring Vin Diesel, Ben Affleck and Giovanni Ribisi, Affleck's character epitomizes this love for the green. "Those who say that money is the root of all evil, don't have any!" "People say money can't buy you happiness? See this smile? Ear to <expletive> ear!" I think we all know someone who has the same attitude on life. But to get ahead in the corporate world is much different that winning a lottery.
I was enlightened by my criminology professor as to the nature of so-called victimless crimes, of which gambling be one. Just think, who is the victim of gambling? No one really. In theory, it consists of rational adults making rational decisions about what to do with their money. Simple, right? Not exactly. Let me take you on a hypothetical situation. Joe Family Guy comes home from work, for the last time, being fired over some insignificant conflict with management. He sess his family, their smiling faces, so happy to see daddy dearest home after a long day's work. Joe just doesn't have the heart to let them know that he has let them down. Joe can't say that he no longer has a job. Sitting down in front of the TV, he hears of the next lottery. "$34 million, eh?" Joe thinks. (Joe is Canadian, of course) At wit's end looking for another job, Joe decides to empty his savings account into lottery tickets, in hopes of winning the big one.
Victimless, right? Rational beings making rational decisions. But what about little Valerie and Nicky? What about his wife?
At this point, you're probably asking yourself, "What's the point of this article?" I'm not here to preach, enlighten, or anything of that sort. Just do as everyone else is going to do over the next week. Buy your Super 7 ticket (I know I will), but don't get your hopes up. But hey, can you imagine?
