Throwing money away.

I just bought a Florida Lottery scratch-off ticket, the first one in years. I have had a regular Lotto number since the Lottery began and of course have never made more than $5 and not that often. When I scratched the $1 ticket I bought today, there was of course no match, ergo no winning. I wasn't surprised, though I imagine I fantasized I might win something. But I know it's a loser's game and will not, like many players, rush out to buy another ticket. But it reminded me that many thousands of people spend obscene amounts of money on the Lottery in hopes of winning. I see them lined up when there is a particuarly large jackpot, all types, all incomes, all foolish optimists. Frequently I see Cuban senior citizens with stacks of bills and a variety of envelopes play a series of different games with fierce determination. I wonder how many weekly paychecks or Social Security payments are greatly diminished because of the Lottery. I may play the Lottery but I definitely don't approve of it. I think is a sick business when the state gets involved in gambling, especially when they know—as they do—that they are creating financial havoc in a lot of families and tempting addictive parents to spend money on tickets that shoud be spent on their rent, their health care and their children. At any rate, having worked on the Florida Lottery, I have no right to complain about what a depressing and corrupt organization it, and every other state lottery, is. Not that that will stop me.