Thank you very much for sending these questions. I will answer them to the best of my abilities.
Questions
How old are you?
I am twenty-five.
Is this your first marriage?
Yes.
Is this your spouse's first marriage?
Yes.
What is the age difference between you and your spouse?
She is two years younger than me.
Had you ever considered, or been in a position to consider marriage before?
No. The decision to marry isn't one to be made lightly. Or, it shouldn't be.
Are you and your spouse compatible?
Not really. Maybe even not at all. We lead very different lives, and neither of us really have any desire to have a future together, let alone to start it now.
What was your concept of marriage before the lottery system was brought in?
This is a difficult question to answer. I didn't think much about marriage before the lottery system was introduced. I was a young man and not at all interested in marriage at the time, though I did want it at some point in my future, and I suppose that was the extent of what I thought about it. I knew that it was a decision to be made when you were absolutely sure you wanted to be with someone - Something that, ideally, would follow an extended period of serious dating, and required a total commitment from both parties.
Has this changed since it's introduction?
Oh, I suppose so. Since the lottery began, it's difficult not to think of marriage as this... Binding contract and relentless obligation that interrupts your life and ultimately makes people unhappy.
Has it changed since being drawn and paired?
In the same manner as above, but it feels much more personal now. Marriage almost seems meaningless. What the hell is the point of marrying someone you love, when the government could just as easily do it for you, to someone you don't even know? It does cheapen the whole thing, I think.
What do you believe is the purpose of the government in legislating to have the lottery an act of congress?
I believe that it is because they want everything to look like they're operating just as they should, even though they're clearly overstepping their boundaries and violating the constitution. Even if congress did not approve, I am sure they would find a way to continue this travesty of a program.
Would you have married of your own choice if given the opportunity?
I had hoped to, some day.
Would you describe your childhood as 'happy'?
Oh yes.
How would you describe your parent's marriage?
Sometimes my parents seem to be two halves of the same person. They're very close, and even after so many years they do seem to love each other still. They rely heavily on one another, and I remember very few real fights between the two of them in my whole life.