Weekly Analysis- Week 2

This week’s review at popular culture focuses on the infatuation ofsome Americans with the lottery. The reason of this focus is brought about by the “water cooler” talk because of the amount of the Mega Millions drawing; at the time was $333 million. On August 28, 2009, two tickets had the winning numbers, which would split the jackpot between the ticketholders (Mega Million, 2009). This week’s class discussion was centered on myths and the American dream. By combining the “water cooler” talks and class discussion, I have pondered, what would I do if I were the winner of a jackpot such as this?

According to Christakos (2005), many lottery winners compile a list of wants, mostly material possessions. Christakos (2005) continues that eighty percent of all lottery winners file for bankruptcy within five years of hitting the jackpot. Let’s think about that. If I were one of the ticketholders of the most recent Mega Millions, I would split $333 million.My half would be $166.5 million before taxes. For mathematical reasons, taxes absorb another half of that which would leave me with $83.25 million, still an astronomical amount of money.

With my money, I could buy just about anything that I could possibly want. My family, which would probably become larger after the news of my fortune, could be set for their lives, or at least debt free. My wife and I could have the house we always wanted, the automobiles only dreamed of, and the lack of stress that encompasses a day at the office. However, can it buy happiness, love, and respect?

Not all too far away from my home in Bellefontaine, Ohio; a lottery pool at work became part of a legal battle. Fellow workers for the city of Piqua, Ohio, were engaged in a weekly lottery pool. They all had an agreement that if someone was not at work, that someone would cover their cost for the tickets and payment would be made on the next time they were at work. This was never a problem until December 12, 2008 when the work group held the winning ticket for a $207 million jackpot and four members of the lottery pool were absent from work on the Friday when the lottery collection was made. According to American City and County, the four co- workers that were absent were left out of the jackpot claim by the others that had paid their share that week. These individuals had worked with each other for nearly 20 years in an intimate small setting and turn on each other when the riches became real. Based on the evidence of how money changes everything, I prefer the old fashioned way of earning it.

References
Author, N. (2009). Money changes everything. American City & County Vol. 124, Issue 1.Retrieved on August 30, 2009 from Business Source Complete.

Christakos, C. (2005, April 21). Lottery winners lose it all. Retrieved August 28, 2009, fromEzine Articles.com: http://ezinearticles.com/Lottery-Winners-Lose-It- All

Mega Millions. (2009, August 29). Retrieved August 30, 2009, from Mega Millions Home:http://www.megamillions.com