It isn't the same kind of "reality" program...

as shows like "Survivor", "The X-Factor", "Duck Dynasty" that stupid "Honey Boo Boo" thing that will never grace my television screen for more than the amount of time it takes to immediately change the channel upon hitting it by accident; but ABC's "What Would You Do" is on my mind.

If you haven't seen the show, they create situations and see how people react to them.  A few examples are a parent who appears to be having too much to drink and then leaves intending to drive...with their child.  A man and woman who appear to be on a date, and then when he goes to the restroom, the woman starts talking about how she's only interested in him for his money.  A woman shopping with her kids who is seen stealing and says she's doing it because they are hungry so please don't turn them in.

I'm wondering what you would do in a situation.  There's a guy in Arizona.  He's married and apparently he loves his job.  I'm drawing that conclusion because this guy is in his 30s, and has said that he plans to keep his job even after turning in one of the two winning Powerball tickets from that recent gigantic jackpot.  After taxes, he will end up with more than $110 million.

Would you stay at your job if you had that kind of money?  Before you answer, bear in mind that with your newfound wealth earning you a lot of money each year, you'll now be in the highest income tax bracket.  So you will be paying the maximum amount of federal, state and social security tax on your earnings.  35% federal, 11.3% (if you were in CA) and 7.65% social security/medicare tax means that out of every dollar you earn, 54 cents will be lost in taxes.  So would you keep working at your job?

I have to say that I think I would prefer to spend the rest of my life doing volunteer work that made me happy and contributed something positive to society.  But that's just me.  What would you do?

On a related note:

The Arizona winner requested that his name be withheld and lottery officials complied with his request.  However they also announced that next week, any media organization that files a Freedom of Information request for the winner's identity will be able to learn who he is.  Why do lottery winners have to become public figures?  The sudden acquisition of money shouldn't make someone famous if they don't desire to be in the public spotlight.

I think I understand why the politicians who pass these laws requiring these people to have their identities revealed are making that choice.  They are thinking "if the public sees these people and their new-found wealth, it will convince more people to dream and more tickets will be sold.  More tickets sold means more revenue for me to spend which means more votes for me in future elections.  So their privacy is NOT as important as my ability to spend money and keep my office."  At least I think that's the reasoning.