Hello, everyone.

So this week, we have watched something happen that seems to be happening more and more often.

Powerball, the immensely popular 45-state lottery game, which racks up huge jackpots, has done it again.

As of yesterday, the Powerball jackpot was creeping up to one billion dollars with a B.

And I bring this up because the lottery, believe it or not, has a lot to do with civics and government

in the states where it's legal to play. So here is our episode on what the lottery is, its history, how it became a uniquely

American institution, and most importantly, where that money goes. All right, here we go.

There's always been a lottery. Do we agree with Old Man Warner that the lottery should be continued simply because there's always been one?

As Oklahomans try to strike it rich, they also invest in Oklahoma's future.

Or do we object with Tessie that the whole thing just isn't fair, isn't right?

And so people who buy tickets thinking, hey, I'm helping education, do you think they're

really doing as much as they think they are?

They believe they are, but they're absolutely not benefiting education.

Whatever else Shirley Jackson has done in her story, she has certainly given us a memorable

image.

We're not talking about that lottery, are we, Nick?

Well, as every English teacher in America knows, Hannah, the morning of June 27th was clear

and sunny with the fresh warmth of a full summer day.

All right, I'm going to put the kibosh on Shirley Jackson from the outset, although I will

say that short story is all about hyper-local government.

But I do want to ask you, with all seriousness, what does buying a ticket and maybe winning millions

of dollars have to do with U.S. governmental systems? Why are we doing a civics episode on the lottery?

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