The first thing I would do if I won the lottery would be to start a company I could hide behind. A lottery ticket doesn’t have to be claimed for a year, so I’d have plenty of time. A representative from my company would claim the winnings, so I could keep the low profile I enjoy.
Taking a lump sum would depend on my age. The woman who just won, is 53 and lost out on 200 million by taking a lump sum. I do alright living on $18,000 a year right now, I’d do fine on 17 million a year.
I would have a hard time quitting my job because I love what I do. I might hire people to help me though. I would buy a new car, mine is 11 years old and beat up, with no a/c. The car I have in mind is $32,000. I might get a new house, only because mine is 2 stories on 2 acres of very hilly land. As I get older, the steep inclines, outside and inside, get harder for me to traverse. I’d like a smaller house on a level lot.
Sometimes I make a list of how I will spent the lottery money if I win. I’ve been doing this for more than 20 years. The only thing that’s changed about my lists is that, now, instead of just giving folks money outright, my idea is to create jobs for them.
For my friend who is a professional musician, but recently suffered an arm injury, my idea is to start a music program in the city school system, and she can run it. I mean, we are Music City and we have no good music program in our schools.
I would do the same for friends who are artists, chef’s and Tai Chi instructors. I think Music, Art, Cooking and Movement, are basics of a good education.
I have some older friends who are in debt on their homes, school loans for kids etc. and I would get them out of debt; after that they’re on their own.
Half of my money would go to charity, right off the top. Then I think I’d like to start a think tank for Democratic Socialists. Task them with coming up with ideas to make it easier for everyone to vote, plus come up with the language that the Democratic Party lacks.
I would also start a group in all states to pay attention to down ballot races. Something the Republicans excel at.
I could probably buy my own blog, and for that matter, with enough crazy money, I could buy a city council, 2 mayors, a Governor, 6 Congress Critters, 4 Senators, a Vice President and 2 Supreme Court Justices. But...I’d rather have a think tank instead. One that fields progressive candidates, and works to get them elected the old fashioned (or maybe new fashioned) way, on their merits.
That’s just me though, what would you do if you won the lottery?
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