The Michigan Lottery
Yesterday as I was driving along the highway, I saw a billboard which said (roughly): Michigan Lottery: $17 Billion to our schools.
My first reaction was: how stupid do you think I am? Yes, the lottery does put money into the schools. That's how they got voters to approve the lottery in the first place. Then they promptly took other monies away from the schools. The end result is that the schools aren't actually getting more money. They're just getting different money.
Then I thought about it. Years ago, The Clam had a bumper sticker on her car that said: Lottery: a tax on people who can't do math. I have bought 1 or 2 lottery tickets in my day, fully realizing that it was a stupid waste of money. I have never seriously "played the lottery." So, as I'm pondering this billboard, I realize: the irony of the situation is perfect! People who can't do math are paying way more than their fair share to ensure that children learn math!
It's beautiful! It's brilliant!
My first reaction was: how stupid do you think I am? Yes, the lottery does put money into the schools. That's how they got voters to approve the lottery in the first place. Then they promptly took other monies away from the schools. The end result is that the schools aren't actually getting more money. They're just getting different money.
Then I thought about it. Years ago, The Clam had a bumper sticker on her car that said: Lottery: a tax on people who can't do math. I have bought 1 or 2 lottery tickets in my day, fully realizing that it was a stupid waste of money. I have never seriously "played the lottery." So, as I'm pondering this billboard, I realize: the irony of the situation is perfect! People who can't do math are paying way more than their fair share to ensure that children learn math!
It's beautiful! It's brilliant!
posted by The Big Seester | 12:20 PM
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