This image of life as an unjust, capricious lottery has always struck a chord with liberals. If there’s no God, as they reckon, then the position is vacant and they’re the ones with the best right to fill it!
It’s not about imposing order and “fairness” on a chaotic world of total randomness. It’s about seizing and amassing power over others.
“Ye shall be as gods,” said Satan.
He has never had a reason to change his sales pitch.
Why should he change tactids when this old one is still so effec
This speaks volumes of the mentality that pervades much of our culture. Lotteries do not equate to lasting wealth. In fact, many lottery winners end up right back where they started, within a few years. I’m not rich, but I’ve enjoyed a bit of success in life. Any success I’ve had has involved a lot of early mornings, long hours of work and saying no to luxuries.
Lottery winners tend to make the same common mistake, in that they buy things they’ve dreamed of owning, with no thought to the ongoing costs of upkeep. A huge house comes with huge property taxes and huge property insurance costs. As great as a full-sized Mercedes would be, the costs of licensing, insurance and upkeep are beyond the reach of a Middle Class income. People with little or no experience in managing money, can easily end up deep in debt, with their lottery payments proving insufficient to the cost of living they have assumed.
Another way to look at this would be to use today’s windfall to insulate yourself from future expenses. A middle class home, a more modest vehicle and a realization that every possession comes with ongoing expense will result in much greater economic security, over the long term. I knew a man that won a very large lottery, but had experience in managing both his money and real estate assets. While he had come into a lot of money, he kept the same vehicles and didn’t assume a luxurious lifestyle. He also paid for professional advice and didn’t make the mistake of allowing himself to make wasteful decisions, just because he had more cash.
Life is not a lottery, in any sense. Among my ancestors, on both side of the family, there were some fairly prosperous people, but there were also some people whom made poor choices, and there were some unfortunate events, too. As a result, I wasn’t born into money, and I grew up in a household where we lived paycheck to paycheck. I don’t believe that my parents ever had any savings. Among my extended family, the results are all over the map. Some of my generation have prospered, while others struggle. In the end, it comes down to practical decisions, the ability to say no to one’s immediate wants and an eye to the future.
We can’t predict the future, but people that make long-range plans tend to do better than those that do not. Debt is a tool, but misused, it is a formidable enemy. Making the jump from poverty to prosperity is difficult, but it takes a lot more than just money. Attitudes and expectations have to change, as well.
My father made good money at the Ford plant and my mother managed it shrewdly. Even then, crushing medical expenses used up much of their savings.
Very sad, but far too common.
Boy, do I understand what both of you are saying. My first husband and I started very small and with hard work and a little wisdom, managed to acquire a reasonable (for those days) “estate” and then through two long bouts with medical problems, and then a second marriage, similar circumstances, by the time I became widowed, everything had been wiped out. I am thankful for two wonderful sons to help me in my old age, and most of all the dear Lord that I lean on.
My aunts all had considerable estates that were devoured by medical expenses–nothing left for anyone to inherit.