rich get richer
I can't be the only one who hates when rich people play the lottery.
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I can't be the only one who hates when rich people play the lottery.
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Yep.
But, there's an inaccuracy in that story, I think. Even though his home state doesn't have state income tax, I'd be willing to bet he'll have to pay some kind of tax to DC where he bought the ticket.
Posted by: Roxanne | October 21, 2005 08:58 AM
I hate it even more when poor people spend the baby's milk money on this silly, improbable dream of winning the lottery.
Posted by: mickie | October 21, 2005 09:18 AM
I agree with mickie. I think rich people are the only ones who arguably have enough money to waste on lottery tickets.
Posted by: Amanda | October 21, 2005 10:41 AM
The lottery provides false hope for the poor, and fosters the mentality that someone is going to come by on a white horse and rescue them.
There's an old joke about a man who prayed to God to let him win the lottery. God came to him in a vision and said "okay... I'll grant your wish." The lottery comes, and the man doesn't win, and the man angrily asks God why he didn't win. God responds "dude... you have to buy a freakin' ticket!"
The point is that people who put their hope in some magic cure for the problems are more likely to stop working to fix the problem.
Is it any surprise that the poor play the lottery so much? It rather stands out as an example of the very behavior that is keeping them poor in the first place.
Posted by: Mark J | October 21, 2005 11:25 AM
You are right that is pretty lame, the guy's already a millionaire. WTF. Imagine what the 'average' person could do with 800 grand. Personally, I did not get a single number in the last drawing...
Posted by: mrbandw | October 21, 2005 11:34 AM
I hadn't thought of it before, but this inspires me to another way of shielding yourself from the mob of people wanting the $340 million: sell the ticket to someone rich enough to pay me (say) $34 million in cash. He turns in the ticket and nets $306 million and the publicity.
Yes, I buy an occasional lottery ticket, once it gets above $150 million; an infinitisimal chance is larger than a zero chance.
Posted by: htom | October 21, 2005 12:18 PM
I think Congress may work under the same rules as the military - their income is earned in their home state for tax purposes, regardless of where they reside.
Posted by: COD | October 21, 2005 12:18 PM
How do we know so many poor people play the lottery? Do we have statistics? Have studies been done? A cursory Google doesn't turn up much on the subject, and I, personally, have never been asked my household income when buying a ticket...
Posted by: Sekimori | October 21, 2005 12:41 PM
Most of the rich aren't dumb enough to play the lottery...that's part of the reason why they're rich.
My favorite part of the article was this, however:
"We'll take it all," he said.
Spoken by a Democrat, of course.
Posted by: Toren | October 21, 2005 12:44 PM
are you guys talking about the lottery? im not a Lib, but its all these wannbe political scientists people that make this country so damned divided. whys everything gotta be about dem/rep? lets just boycott the lottery!
Posted by: Jay | October 21, 2005 01:36 PM
Actually, a "cursory google" turns up plenty on the subject:
http://www.puaf.umd.edu/IPPP/Winter-Spring00/The_American_State_Lottery.htm
http://www.cofc.edu/chrestomathy/vol2/tomlinson.pdf
http://www.alabamapolicy.org/GTI/GTI-gambling-4.html
And that took me, oh, I dunno, about 45 seconds.
Posted by: Bill from INDC | October 21, 2005 01:58 PM
Bill, I owe you 45 seconds. Collect anytime.
Posted by: Mark J | October 21, 2005 08:02 PM
Hey, Bill,here's another:
href=http://www.acton.org/ppolicy/comment/article.php?id=185
Please add another 30 seconds to your 45.Posted by: andy | October 22, 2005 01:11 PM
To quote the dealer that terrorizes Clark Griswold at the blackjack tables,
"Why don't you give me half the money you were going to bet, then we'll go out back, I'll kick you in the nuts and we'll call it a day!"
Playing the lottery's a sucker's bet, but it provides entertainment for the rich....and force's the poor to think they can get something for nothing.
What are you folks advocating here? A ban on the sale of lottery tickets for the poor?
I think that there have been far more "poor" winners than rich ones...back in California we used to joke about needing to be an illegal alien to win...
See you on the high ground!
MajorDad1984
Posted by: MajorDad1984 | October 23, 2005 01:43 PM
I agree with you the way you view the issue. I remember Jack London once said everything positive has a negative side; It is also interesting to see different viewpoints & learn useful things in the discussion.
Posted by: penis stretcher | November 7, 2005 08:56 AM