The distribution of property and other assets by lot has a long history. The Old Testament instructs Moses to take a census of Israel and divide land among its inhabitants by lottery. The Roman emperors used lotteries to give away goods and slaves during Saturnalian feasts. In modern times, state governments use lotteries to raise money for educational, veteran’s health and other programs without raising taxes.
The Lottery, Shirley Jackson’s short story about a family in a remote American village, is about more than just winning the lottery. The story is a parable of how people can be changed by sudden wealth and how even well-intentioned families can end up losing their way. The story shows how lottery proceeds can be mismanaged and lead to family betrayal.
State governments depend on the profits from their lottery programs, and in an anti-tax era, there is pressure to increase these profits. But it is difficult for government officials at any level to manage an activity from which they profit without sacrificing important public goals.
When lottery officials first set up their programs, they make a series of decisions that are often contradictory and self-serving. Afterward, they must continually adjust their policies to cope with market conditions and the evolving industry. This creates a situation in which policy is made piecemeal and incrementally, with the result that few states have a coherent gambling or lottery policy. Moreover, the authority to establish and manage a lottery is divided between the executive and legislative branches and further fragmented within each.