Conspicuous Stupidity

There's a commercial that begins with, "People are smart", but I have to disagree. Overall, I think that people are pretty stupid.

Take the lottery. Why is it that nearly everyone who wins has front teeth missing, looks as if they reek of tobacco, cheap beer and motor oil and say things like "we was" and "it don't"? Why is it never a widowed grandmother, or a young couple who is working hard to save for their child's college fund, or, well, me?

It's because Uncle Dad and Aunt Mom spend their money on lotto tickets instead of pulling themselves out of the trailer park, or getting their kids off of the free lunch program. It's because the widowed grandmother and the diligent young couple can't--or don't--spend their extra money at the local Stop-N-Rob. One woman won several one-million dollar tickets, but that was because she spent nearly $100 every week on buying them. Hell, I wish I could afford to shell out that much money each month on something not food or shelter related!

Our country is one of conspicuous consumption. Most lottery winners piddle their money away on things that are designed to impress others and fill the void rather than invest in a comfortable future and something to pass along to their children and grandchilden. A garage full of cars takes precedence over a family trust, being encrusted in diamond watches and gaudy rings almost always wins out over prudent planning, and filling their noses with white powder is more fun than helping the poor.

Let's face it. Winning a large amount of money only magnifies what's already there. If you're an unhappy, empty person when you're broke, you're still going to be that way when the big check arrives at your front door, but if you're stable and self-accountable that will evince itself whether you have a fat bank account or not.