I know that's the narrative people want to focus on,
IE: you.
Hmmm... You might think so. But I'm going to go with the poster repeatedly talking about how we should be paying for government with "equitable taxes". Cause letting people make choices of their own free will is somehow inherently unfair for some reason.
Governments shouldn't take advantage of the people they're supposed to serve. But then on the other hand, if the alternative is "tax the rich/smart/successful more",,,,,.
Your big chance to make a rational humane statement about the size of government and what services it should and shouldn't be providing. Better to bleed dry the the poor dumb slobs than expect your rich millionaire friends to help fund their government...
Obviously, I'd rather we shrink the size of government, but while lotteries are effectively a tax on stupidity, no one forces anyone to buy a ticket. So on the whole "authority versus liberty" scale, it's far far better than the alternative...
I can't speak for elsewhere, but lottery advertisements here have about as many warnings as a box of cigarettes. They say your odds of winning are low, how you should play it for entertainment and not investment, there's phone numbers and websites offering support for gambling problems, etc. etc. It's to the point I really have to question anyone who thinks it's a worthwhile endeavor.
Only hope for the ignorant masses perhaps? And who are we to take away all hope of a better life?
Obviously, I'd rather we shrink the size of government, but while lotteries are effectively a tax on stupidity, no one forces anyone to buy a ticket. So on the whole "authority versus liberty" scale, it's far far better than the alternative...
I can't speak for elsewhere, but lottery advertisements here have about as many warnings as a box of cigarettes. They say your odds of winning are low, how you should play it for entertainment and not investment, there's phone numbers and websites offering support for gambling problems, etc. etc. It's to the point I really have to question anyone who thinks it's a worthwhile endeavor.
Only hope for the ignorant masses perhaps? And who are we to take away all hope of a better life?
Sure. Like I said, ideally we shouldn't have to burden people with paying for so much government in the first place. But if we're going to do so anyway, and I'm given a choice to allow people to choose to buy low return lottery tickets as a means to decrease the amount of that burden paid for via taxes, that's the lesser of two evils IMO. Choice versus mandate. Easy. Sucks for the stupid people who end out blowing money on the tickets, but they did so because they are "stupid", not because the government gave them no choice.
Obviously, I'd rather we shrink the size of government, but while lotteries are effectively a tax on stupidity, no one forces anyone to buy a ticket. So on the whole "authority versus liberty" scale, it's far far better than the alternative...
I can't speak for elsewhere, but lottery advertisements here have about as many warnings as a box of cigarettes. They say your odds of winning are low, how you should play it for entertainment and not investment, there's phone numbers and websites offering support for gambling problems, etc. etc. It's to the point I really have to question anyone who thinks it's a worthwhile endeavor.
Only hope for the ignorant masses perhaps? And who are we to take away all hope of a better life?
Sure. Like I said, ideally we shouldn't have to burden people with paying for so much government in the first place. But if we're going to do so anyway, and I'm given a choice to allow people to choose to buy low return lottery tickets as a means to decrease the amount of that burden paid for via taxes, that's the lesser of two evils IMO. Choice versus mandate. Easy. Sucks for the stupid people who end out blowing money on the tickets, but they did so because they are "stupid", not because the government gave them no choice.
Talking about hypocritical?
Why should government be running the lottery?
It can be done just as well, theoretically better, by a private company. There are no social reasons, no security reasons, no health reasons for state governments to be selling lottery tickets. It's not at all necessary. It's a perfect candidate for the free market.
You're one of the 'stupid people' your words eh buying lottery tickets aren't you?
A question for those that buy tickets - Would you be spending the same, more or less on lottery tickets if the proceeds went to a private entity versus a state government?
My spending on tickets is minimal anyway but I'd probably buy less if it went 100% into some dude's pocket rather than the nominal purpose in Illinois of helping fund education.
Saw a comment the other day that made me think. "The greatest flaw in libertarianism is the assumption that the government is the only entity capable of inhibiting freedom."
Sure. Like I said, ideally we shouldn't have to burden people with paying for so much government in the first place. But if we're going to do so anyway, and I'm given a choice to allow people to choose to buy low return lottery tickets as a means to decrease the amount of that burden paid for via taxes, that's the lesser of two evils IMO. Choice versus mandate. Easy. Sucks for the stupid people who end out blowing money on the tickets, but they did so because they are "stupid", not because the government gave them no choice.
Talking about hypocritical?
Not at all. I'm pointing out that one is the least bad of two bad courses of action. I'm not *for* either one. But if the choice is "increase state revenue by X dollars by running a lottery" and "increase state revenue by X dollars by raising taxes", I'll pick the former.
Quote:
Why should government be running the lottery?
Because the purpose is to raise revenue for the government? I'm confused by the question.
Quote:
It can be done just as well, theoretically better, by a private company. There are no social reasons, no security reasons, no health reasons for state governments to be selling lottery tickets. It's not at all necessary. It's a perfect candidate for the free market.
Private companies *do* run gambling games. They're just regulated such that the payouts are higher than the state lotteries. You're vastly better off plunking coins into a slot machine for hours on end than buying scratchers, for example. The purpose isn't about providing opportunities to people to get rich via gambling. It's about taking their money in a way that makes them less unhappy about it.
Quote:
You're one of the 'stupid people' your words eh buying lottery tickets aren't you?
Seriously? Doesn't the "anyone opposed to something must secretly love it" bit get old? Ever?
Quote:
A question for those that buy tickets - Would you be spending the same, more or less on lottery tickets if the proceeds went to a private entity versus a state government?
I can't speak for those who do regularly buy tickets, but it's a meaningless question. A private entity *can't* run a gamble with such a low relative payout. So I'm going to assume that if one did, or tried to, no one would play those games versus the ones that already exist, but with much better odds. I mean, if you were given a choice of playing a game with a 90% payout rate versus one with a 50% payout rate, both at the same establishment, which one would you spend your money on?
Now, that doesn't mean that people who buy lottery tickets do so because they know the money will go to pay for schools, or roads, or police, or whatever. I never discount people just being plain rock stupid.
I can't speak for those who do regularly buy tickets, but it's a meaningless question. A private entity *can't* run a gamble with such a low relative payout. So I'm going to assume that if one did, or tried to, no one would play those games versus the ones that already exist, but with much better odds. I mean, if you were given a choice of playing a game with a 90% payout rate versus one with a 50% payout rate, both at the same establishment, which one would you spend your money on?
The one with the prettier colors.
I'm not being flip, market research has indicated that people vastly prefer a more interesting experience and high perceived 'lucky' payouts than they do net effective rewards.
I can't speak for those who do regularly buy tickets, but it's a meaningless question. A private entity *can't* run a gamble with such a low relative payout. So I'm going to assume that if one did, or tried to, no one would play those games versus the ones that already exist, but with much better odds. I mean, if you were given a choice of playing a game with a 90% payout rate versus one with a 50% payout rate, both at the same establishment, which one would you spend your money on?
The one with the prettier colors.
I'm not being flip, market research has indicated that people vastly prefer a more interesting experience and high perceived 'lucky' payouts than they do net effective rewards.
Correct. Which is why I stipulated "at the same establishment". The assumption is that people play the much lower odds state run lotteries because of a combination of much greater availability plus significant advertising (You can't win if you don't play!).
Still, it seems manipulative. The poor sole who will never see millions is offered up a fantasy - for only a buck.
I buy it for the fantasy. If I'm having a bad day, I can spend a few minutes thinking about how much better things will be when I win the lottery.
Considering I'd probably waste the money on a candy bar or something anyway, it's really probably better in the long run.
Pretty much this. I get a little tired of hearing the righteous indignation of some who call it the "poor tax" and talk about how you are more likely to get struck by lightning 12 times than win the lottery. Who fracking cares? On the fairly rare occasion that I purchase a ticket, it's for the entertainment value. The daydream of what I would or wouldn't do with my winnings, the rush when I go to check the numbers, and the extremely slim chance that I might get rich beyond my wildest dreams. Is it a waste of money? Yeah, the odds state that clearly. Still, there is a remote chance. And why not me over some gap-toothed trailer trash 35 year old grandma who lives off of unemployment and food stamps?
Now the folks who get all serious about it and drop their entire paycheck on quickpicks.... well, they need help. And they would need it if it was a state sanctioned lottery, trip to Vegas, a day at the ponies, or some back-alley poker game where there are armed gangsters outside.
____________________________
Some people are like slinkies, they aren't really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down the stairs.
Now the folks who get all serious about it and drop their entire paycheck on quickpicks.... well, they need help.
I'm reasonably sure we can safely say that this is the group everyone is talking about.
Quote:
And they would need it if it was a state sanctioned lottery, trip to Vegas, a day at the ponies, or some back-alley poker game where there are armed gangsters outside.
Sure. But this is the government doing it to them, and at remarkably worse odds for the player. I can see how some might be indignant about how their government shouldn't be encouraging that sort of self destructive behavior. For me personally, it's more of a cynical acknowledgement that government is just as willing (and arguably more able) to take advantage of people's folly as anyone else.
Sure. But this is the government doing it to them, and at remarkably worse odds for the player. I can see how some might be indignant about how their government shouldn't be encouraging that sort of self destructive behavior. For me personally, it's more of a cynical acknowledgement that government is just as willing (and arguably more able) to take advantage of people's folly as anyone else.
You're just now getting that the government is willing to take advantage of the ignorance or indifference of the public? I find that hard to believe.
____________________________
Some people are like slinkies, they aren't really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down the stairs.