I woke Thursday morning not knowing that the $579 million piece of paper was worth all that a piece of paper is worth. Of the six winning numbers, I had chosen one correctly. Not even good enough for another ticket.

Only having bought one ticket — the winner — I ache for those who waited in unsufferable line to bargain away a merry Christmas on losing pieces of paper.

With a jackpot this large, certainly the talk of adopting a state lottery in Mississippi will gain new traction. Indeed, Mississippi House member Alyce Clarke of Hinds County for the sixth time plans to introduce legislation to add Mississippi to the list of those with lotteries.

The casino industry is against it. The religious right is against it. When two bodies at opposite ends of the political spectrum come out against something, it probably is a bad deal.

For Mississippi, it would be a bad deal.

Lotteries sell unrealistic dreams that cater to the most vulnerable among us. Those with the least will be hurt the most, it is said with truth. Those who walk the financial tightrope see a lottery as a chance to move up to the East Side and that de-lux apartment they’ve always wanted.

While there would be some financial successes — schools and roads might see increased funding — it comes off the backs of many of the same people who are most swayed by an unrealistic dream of living on Easy Street.

If lotteries are looked upon logically, which is rare because of the addiction of any form of gambling, it is paying a couple of bucks to dream, not a legitimate retirement plan. When the jackpot gets above a certain threshold — say $300 million — is it not worth the $2 to dream a little dream for a couple days? Is it not a nice respite from fiscal cliffs, corrupt and incompetent leaders and the drumbeat of national divisions?

Believing that it will be you to pay off all the family’s mortgages, buy an exotic island or cruise America in a Winnebago with the dog is absolutely worth a couple of bucks.

But I knew I wasn’t going to win. I’d have a better chance replacing Nick Saban as speaker of the Tuscaloosa Touchdown Club than winning the lottery. When I woke Thursday morning, the mortgage bill still sat on the coffee table, the dog sat on the same old couch and I read of fiscal cliffs.

But nary have I dreamed like I did Wednesday night. Certainly worth my $2.