Letter: Lottery promotes wishful thinking

From Mr Robin P. M. Clarke

Sir: It is not only the "Churches [that] unite to attack 'damaging' lottery" (25 October) but also non-religious people such as myself. The most profound problems with the National Lottery are not only that it is a tax on stupidity, but that it promotes greed, selfishness and wishful thinking and undermines the motivating forces that lead to achievement. Add to these the problems of gambling, addiction and loss of charitable contributions, and the case for abolishing the lottery is unambiguous.

People have a right not to be pestered by instant delusion at every post office and supermarket. Those who want to gamble should do so in more discreet circumstances and not under the auspices of the state.

Yours sincerely,

Robin P. M. Clarke

Birmingham