Lottery is an activity that involves the drawing of lots to determine a prize. It is usually a sum of money, though it may also be goods or services. The name “lottery” comes from the Latin term for a “fateful drawing of lots,” and the concept has been around for a long time. It was used in the Roman Empire—Nero, for example, was a fan of lotteries—and in early America. It was used to raise funds for the first English colonies, and George Washington sponsored a lottery to finance a road across the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Since then, state governments have adopted lotteries in almost every state and territory. They have used a variety of arguments in favor of adoption, but the fundamental dynamic seems to be that voters want states to spend more and politicians are willing to accept a form of gambling that produces revenue without requiring an increase in taxes or cuts in public programs. In other words, a state’s financial health has little bearing on its decision to adopt a lottery.
A major problem with this arrangement is that it is a tax on those with the fewest resources. Studies show that lottery players tend to have lower incomes, and those with the least amount of money are disproportionately likely to play. Moreover, lottery proceeds are used to fund advertising and promotional activities that are aimed at increasing player numbers, which is not the most equitable way to distribute revenue.
The story begins in an unnamed town on June 27th of an unspecified year. Children who are on summer break, including Bobby Martin, Harry Jones and Dickie Delacroix, gather at the village square. They exhibit the stereotypical small-town behavior of chattering, sizing each other up and playing games. Then adult men and women begin to assemble, as well. The setting is bucolic and typical of a small-town, but the narrative quickly shifts into horror.
People gather to participate in the yearly lottery, which lasts for about two hours. They select stones, which were prepared earlier by the kids. Among the stones are large, beautiful ones and small, round ones. Those with the largest stones are selected to be in the first drawing, while those with smaller, less-precious ones will be drawn later.
The story illustrates that people’s actions are often motivated by irrational beliefs and stereotypes, which is why it is so important to question them. The Lottery is a powerful reminder of how easy it is to fall into the trap of scapegoating and discrimination. It is particularly troubling that these behaviors persist even after they have been exposed as destructive. Mass incarceration of African Americans, the profiling and hate crimes against Muslims after 9/11, the deportation of immigrants in this country and elsewhere—these are just some of the recent examples. But the story from The Lottery shows that these attitudes can be overcome and replaced with more ethical behaviors. By practicing mindfulness, we can avoid falling into these traps and lead more responsible lives.