National lotteries are organised because there is a surplus of money which can be used for charitable causes. Unfortunately the person buying the ticket has no control whatsoever on how the surplus money is used. This is decided by a committee who make their own choices amongst proposals submitted to them.
When you buy a lottery ticket you should be able to designate where the surplus should go. This would be done with broad categories: medical research; overseas aid; the disabled; education; children; old people etc.
The designation could be done by selling different tickets or by ticking a box on the ticket receipt.
Surplus funds would then be divided proportionately according to the designations. This way a purchaser of a ticket would not only be buying a ‘chance’ but also contributing to a charity sector of hisor her choosing.
Edward de Bono
