Words Matter: Despite/Because, Because/Despite--NPR Story On Lotteries

The headline from NPR is: More People Buying Lottery Tickets Despite Recession.

Or, perhaps, is it because? When people lose the existential connection that work, effort, thrift, and virtue create wealth, they lose hope. Might as well buy that lottery ticket, lightning may strike, maybe I'll finally get rich off all those other rubes who buy lottery tickets just like me.

When people see the worst sort of hustlers enrich themselves, leaving the wreckage behind for others to clean up, they lose faith. Might as well buy that lottery ticket, lightning may strike, maybe I'll finally get rich off all those other rubes who buy lottery tickets just like me. At least I didn't toss the economy over the cliff in the process.

When people see governments selling lottery tickets, they hear the message: Wealth happens via the lightning strike, mere capricious fortune, so instead of going to the bookie or the numbers game, we'll run numbers instead. The sense of integrity departs the culture. Might as well buy that lottery ticket, lightning may strike, maybe I'll finally get rich off all those other rubes who buy lottery tickets just like me.

(Besides, it's fer educashun--can't argew with educashun, can we?)

Despite.

Because.

In any case, it is heartbreaking to walk into convenience stores and see dispirited-looking people handing over cash for a 1 in 40-million chance of hitting the magical number that changes everything for them.