Oct 22 2005
The real numbers
We’ll not take particular exception to the promotional efforts of lottery officials who have been pumping up this week’s $340 million Powerball win by someone – tuns out to be a man in Medford – in hopes of expanding interest in the games.
The news media have no excuse, however – with the award for worst unpaid lottery ad of the week going to the Tuesday morning Idaho Statesman, which devoted half its page one newshole to hyping the game.
The dishonest part of this, from the perspective of news organizations at least, is that the winner will not get $340 million – not even close. At least the Oregonian, in today’s edition, made note of that. In a page one chart, it pointed out that the real winnings (after taxes) amount to $110.1 million, the amount the recipient either would get in lump sum or would be invested and doled out over 30 years.
That’s still not dog food, of course. But let’s have some honesty around here
One more thing: This winner has decided to remain secluded instead of basking in the media spotlight. Good for him.
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