A tax on people that can't do math

A tax on people that can't do math (Full Version)

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Iamsemisweet -> A tax on people that can't do math (12/6/2011 1:10:06 PM)
In my local paper today, there was an article about a long term unemployed man who just won $250K in the state lottery. While I am sure it was intended as a feel good kind of story, I find the idea of someone who is unemployed spending the money to buy lottery tickets in the first place a little disturbing. Sure, it worked out for this individual, but I know that state lottery's mainly cater to low income people, who buy the tickets on impulse. Video poker is even worse, since it actually feeds people's addictions. As much as the state tries to say that the lottery "does good things" and that they need the revenue, I see it is predatory. I also see lots of newspaper stories about people who embezzled from their employers in order to feed their addiction to video poker. How do others feel about state sanctioned gambling?

Iamsemisweet -> RE: A tax on people who can't do math (12/6/2011 1:12:11 PM)
Oops. Corrected the title.

MrRodgers -> RE: A tax on people who can't do math (12/6/2011 1:25:23 PM)
That was just part of his 'disposal' income.

tazzygirl -> RE: A tax on people that can't do math (12/6/2011 1:28:03 PM)
Did he spend a dollar, or twenty? Not that it really matters, to be honest. It is his money. If he cannot pay his bills, there is no more money coming.

Iamsemisweet -> RE: A tax on people that can't do math (12/6/2011 1:29:22 PM)
The article said he had a "handful" of tickets in his visor that he had bought a couple months before. He was going in to buy more tickets, and decided to check the previous ones.

tazzygirl -> RE: A tax on people that can't do math (12/6/2011 1:31:22 PM)
You can check back as far as 6 months, I believe. Lottery drawings are twice a week. That could be around 50 tickets in that time at one dollar a drawing.

Iamsemisweet -> RE: A tax on people that can't do math (12/6/2011 1:34:03 PM)
Your point? I am not so interested in this one guy, obviously it worked out for him. I am more concerned about the state profiting by pushing a product (and boy, do they ever spend a lot of money on advertising) that by its nature is going to attract those who can least afford it.

tazzygirl -> RE: A tax on people that can't do math (12/6/2011 1:40:44 PM)
Thats long been an argument. SC allowed those cherry master poker machines to come in. And it was a disaster. There was no state regulation being enforced, no way for the state to monitor as they were not hooked up to a central office. children were dying in cars while the parents gambled away. Crime rates went up. Eventually SC got rid of them. They brought in the lottery instead. How do I feel about it? We buy tickets when the drawing hits 100 million. Its our entertainment. But we also toss all loose change into a jar for that fund. We have a casino here. When I was working, I would go. They bus in the older tour groups, encourage routine gambling by offering "free slot play". There have been lots of arrests there due to theft. And even an embezzling case that included employees. The lottery here does give back to the citizens. It provides for the senior citizens to ride the buses for free. So there is some... and i do mean just some... benefit for the community. But GA is popular for a reason.

Iamsemisweet -> RE: A tax on people that can't do math (12/6/2011 1:42:27 PM)
Meth is popular too. Doesn't mean the state should sell it to raise revenues.

mnottertail -> RE: A tax on people that can't do math (12/6/2011 1:43:17 PM)
If they could tax it scrupulously they would, more money in prosecution than in sales.

tazzygirl -> RE: A tax on people that can't do math (12/6/2011 1:44:35 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Iamsemisweet Meth is popular too. Doesn't mean the state should sell it to raise revenues. If the populous agreed, and they could find a way to tax it, they would. The states voted these lottery's in. The people of that state agreed to them.

Termyn8or -> RE: A tax on people that can't do math (12/6/2011 1:47:21 PM)
Government has no business in that business, nor in trying to prohibit it. They are predators because they have deliberately created a captive market and very bet with them is a sucker bet. But the govenment has been full of predators since the beginning. Actually I'd like to get a poker game going. They say it's illegal but fukum. Fukum in the ass with the horse they rode it on. It's all about money. Want more on "disposable" income ? Go to the store with me. Observe the welfare biotch over here feeding the kids the cheapo mac n cheese, hotdogs if they're lucky, getting all these "juices" from Dow chemical spending a total of $20 on three kids, with food stamps. And then $45 on lottery tickets. A few blunts, some rotgut booze and maybe a bottle of wine. And then getting in a Caddilac Escalade with a grand worth of speakers and amps in it. Sixteen inch mags in case you were wondering, blue diamond headlights. Only the best ! Wonder whan's the last time them kids had some real meat. You think that's bad ? A vet who also gets disability, damnear nothing wrong with him gets six grand a month. Puts the money to good use, to stay high all the time. Hell the kids all moved out with their Mothers, and he is uncollectable for child suppost or anything. Has a nice big house though, probably in one of his Parent's names. It gets worse. You are a bank president. You run the business into the ground and call the lobbyists and get a bonus for fucking over all your customers. Life is fair, but only to certain people. And that lottery drawing in Ohio is not live. Listen carefully, they never say the results are random, they say they are "certified". I know video and I know it is not live because I saw an old quadratrack VTR fuckup during the playback of the drawing. I also saw a number come up and that turned out NOT to be one of the numbers. I wish I had a VCR recording at the time. T^T

willbeurdaddy -> RE: A tax on people that can't do math (12/6/2011 1:51:28 PM)
FR People do things not in their own best interest all the time. As long as it does no harm to others its nobodies business. (And I dont include the possibility of addiction and impact on family as doing harm to others). The math also isnt as easy as you think it might be on first blush. There are utility function involved that greatly distort the simple expected value equation. For example, the lost utility of a highly probable -$10 may be negligible compared to the low probability but tremendous utility of +$250,000. It even gets more distorted when youre talking about life changing payouts from Megabucks etc. ETA as far as the state actually promoting it, its voluntary and therefore a lot fairer than taxes!

blacksword404 -> RE: A tax on people that can't do math (12/6/2011 1:54:41 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: mnottertail If they could tax it scrupulously they would, more money in prosecution than in sales. Number running/ gambling with no cut to the government=bad Number running/ gambling with government getting a cut= good Alcohol with no government cut= bad Alcohol with government cut= good They want their money. They don't care what happens to you as long as you get up and go to work everyday. The government is the ultimate pimp.

willbeurdaddy -> RE: A tax on people that can't do math (12/6/2011 1:55:59 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Termyn8or I wish I had a VCR recording at the time. T^T But you didnt, so it didnt happen.

kalikshama -> RE: A tax on people that can't do math (12/6/2011 6:25:11 PM)
quote: How do others feel about state sanctioned gambling? Your title expressed it well.

LizDeluxe -> RE: A tax on people that can't do math (12/6/2011 6:53:01 PM)
I don't play the lottery so I prefer state sanctioned lotteries that I do not have to participate in as opposed to state levied taxes that I must pay.

littlewonder -> RE: A tax on people that can't do math (12/6/2011 9:06:33 PM)
I look at people as adults who can make their own decisions. If they decide to play the lottery instead of paying their bills then that's on them.

Kirata -> RE: A tax on people that can't do math (12/6/2011 9:22:12 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Iamsemisweet How do others feel about state sanctioned gambling? When the government puts out the proposition that gambling is bad, that it destroys families, that we have to make it illegal, etc., all the while operating and promoting a lottery, what we are teaching our kids can be summed up in two words: DON'T THINK It will only make you frustrated and unhappy. K.

Termyn8or -> RE: A tax on people that can't do math (12/6/2011 9:52:53 PM)
quote: But you didnt, so it didnt happen. Fine, play the lottery. Play the house payment, you can parlay it up and buy a yacht ! If anyone knows it's a sucker bet it should be you, play a buck and get a one in ten thousand chance of winning six hundred. Something like that. People get them dollar signs in their eyes "I could win a million bucks" not realzing that the odds area half a billion to one. ( perhaps a slight exaggeration in some states :-) ) You don't need my nonexistent videotape to know better than to give these leeches your money. I certainly don't. T^T

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