The wacky world of state public finance took a strange turn this week when the cartel that runs the Powerball lottery got together with the cartel that runs the Mega Millions lottery and decided that there was no reason for every state not to enjoy the benefits of these games of chance. Starting in 2010, the states that only offered Powerball will offer the other giant lottery and vice versa. In effect, they will become national lotteries. Every state thinks they will earn extra revenue by letting people who hope their numbers will come in line up for additional games. It certainly beats raising taxes to pay for things like schools and roads and police officers.

Two things to keep in mind. First, rich people don't play the lottery because, well, they are rich. Second, your chances of hitting one of these jackpots is about the same as being eaten by a tiger and a shark on the same day.