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LunarEclipse
Enlil's Official Story


Registered: 10/31/04
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Loc: Building 7
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The Socialism Of The Lottery
#19294510 - 12/18/13 06:18 PM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
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Getting everyone wasting money on a common goal of wasting time on a common goal of embracing ridiculous odds to retain an unrealistic dream of personal happiness in a socialistic system?
-------------------- Anxiety is what you make it.
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Lazarus.Long
Happy to be here now!



Registered: 09/10/13
Posts: 83
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Re: The Socialism Of The Lottery [Re: LunarEclipse] 2
#19294651 - 12/18/13 06:44 PM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
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Or, Free Market Economics at its purist?
Since when has it ever Not been entirely voluntary, as to whether or not you choose to contribute to the lottery system? The government has never forced any one to buy lottery tickets that I know of. Now if you want to argue that the lottery system preys on those in the weakest financial position to be spending money on fairy tales, then you may have an argument. But none the less, even those in poor financial positions should still have the personal freedom to spend the money they earn, as they see fit. In My Opinion
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LunarEclipse
Enlil's Official Story


Registered: 10/31/04
Posts: 21,407
Loc: Building 7
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Re: The Socialism Of The Lottery [Re: Lazarus.Long]
#19294692 - 12/18/13 06:52 PM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
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Quote:
Lazarus.Long said: Or, Free Market Economics at its purist?
Since when has it ever Not been entirely voluntary, as to whether or not you choose to contribute to the lottery system? The government has never forced any one to buy lottery tickets that I know of. Now if you want to argue that the lottery system preys on those in the weakest financial position to be spending money on fairy tales, then you may have an argument. But none the less, even those in poor financial positions should still have the personal freedom to spend the money they earn, as they see fit. In My Opinion
It's a Social Thing, regardless of your point. People talk about it at work, they pool money, they waste a bunch of time. Just like other Social Events.
As for Free Market Economics at its purist, no way. It's government run, taxes and fees are taken up front to spend with the way the government sees fit.
-------------------- Anxiety is what you make it.
Edited by LunarEclipse (12/18/13 06:57 PM)
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Rahz
Alive Again



Registered: 11/10/05
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Re: The Socialism Of The Lottery [Re: LunarEclipse]
#19294786 - 12/18/13 07:19 PM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
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It's a tax on those who aren't good at statistical analysis. I don't care for the distribution method either. It generally takes me twice as long to get through the line at the convenience store. I would go out of my way to shop at non lottery convenient stores, but there aren't any.
I know people who buy lottery tickets every week. When I point out they will likely never even recover the money they have already squandered, they're like "but what if we did win big!"
What's the price of a dream right?
Just a dollar for a Bucks Blast.
I like to think of it as a form of Vampirism. hypnotize it and drain it.
-------------------- rahz comfort pleasure power love truth awareness peace "You’re not looking close enough if you can only see yourself in people who look like you." —Ayishat Akanbi
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Icelander
The Minstrel in the Gallery



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Re: The Socialism Of The Lottery [Re: LunarEclipse]
#19294882 - 12/18/13 07:43 PM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
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Quote:
LunarEclipse said: Getting everyone wasting money on a common goal of wasting time on a common goal of embracing ridiculous odds to retain an unrealistic dream of personal happiness in a socialistic system?
My friend won $5000 the first time he played. He had to pay $1200 of it to tax if I remember right.
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
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LunarEclipse
Enlil's Official Story


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Re: The Socialism Of The Lottery [Re: Rahz]
#19296671 - 12/19/13 05:41 AM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
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Quote:
Rahz said: It's a tax on those who aren't good at statistical analysis. I don't care for the distribution method either. It generally takes me twice as long to get through the line at the convenience store. I would go out of my way to shop at non lottery convenient stores, but there aren't any.
I know people who buy lottery tickets every week. When I point out they will likely never even recover the money they have already squandered, they're like "but what if we did win big!"
What's the price of a dream right?
Just a dollar for a Bucks Blast.
I like to think of it as a form of Vampirism. hypnotize it and drain it.
Dangle the carrot, no matter the odds, and they will come.
Tax wise, the states/IRS love it. Take money already taxed as income, lure idiots into gambling with 1 in 259 million odds (WTF!) and then take more money as income tax. Now at the highest bracket of course.
It's a Ponzi scheme scam, keep taking the victims money until they stop paying into the scam. Except here it's just plain legal, time consuming, and a real waste of resources. Because the higher the payout, the more they can't stay away. Of course now it's won, so we get some respite from the barrage about this "news" until it builds up again.
-------------------- Anxiety is what you make it.
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Icelander
The Minstrel in the Gallery



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Re: The Socialism Of The Lottery [Re: LunarEclipse]
#19296909 - 12/19/13 07:35 AM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
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If I was going to play I'd play after the big win cause your odds would be better. I'd settle for a couple mil. 
I don't remember ever buying one though. I did get some for a birthday present once. Guess what?
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
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LunarEclipse
Enlil's Official Story


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Re: The Socialism Of The Lottery [Re: Icelander]
#19296956 - 12/19/13 07:51 AM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
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Quote:
Icelander said: If I was going to play I'd play after the big win cause your odds would be better. I'd settle for a couple mil. 
I don't remember ever buying one though. I did get some for a birthday present once. Guess what? 
Your odds are the same after the big win, but the payout isn't. So in effect it sucks even worse.
-------------------- Anxiety is what you make it.
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Icelander
The Minstrel in the Gallery



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Re: The Socialism Of The Lottery [Re: LunarEclipse]
#19296957 - 12/19/13 07:52 AM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
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Really? Well then I'm not playing.
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
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LunarEclipse
Enlil's Official Story


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Re: The Socialism Of The Lottery [Re: Icelander]
#19296997 - 12/19/13 08:04 AM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
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Quote:
Icelander said: Really? Well then I'm not playing.
Good. I don't want to wait in line behind you.
-------------------- Anxiety is what you make it.
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TheGreenArrow
Goodbye, Mr. Chops.



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Re: The Socialism Of The Lottery [Re: LunarEclipse]
#19300413 - 12/19/13 10:41 PM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
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The lottery is a tax on the stupid as far as I'm concerned.
-------------------- A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, design a building, conn a ship, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve an equation, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.- Robert A. Heinlein Saint RedBow of the Shroomey Loomey-Patron Saint of Sandbaggin Sumbitchs
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Icelander
The Minstrel in the Gallery



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I'm glad they are subsidizing my tax dollars considering how poorly they are being spent; we need a lot of extra to get even the basic things done.
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
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Beanhead
IS IRONIC PARADOX


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Re: The Socialism Of The Lottery [Re: LunarEclipse]
#19301793 - 12/20/13 08:01 AM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
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That's a great concept.
Shame it's a scam instead of a goal.
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Cyclohexylamine
Turn on, Tune in, Drop out



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Re: The Socialism Of The Lottery [Re: Icelander]
#19302598 - 12/20/13 12:04 PM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
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Quote:
Icelander said:
Quote:
LunarEclipse said: Getting everyone wasting money on a common goal of wasting time on a common goal of embracing ridiculous odds to retain an unrealistic dream of personal happiness in a socialistic system?
My friend won $5000 the first time he played. He had to pay $1200 of it to tax if I remember right. 

Tax man wants his share.
--------------------
You are not special
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LunarEclipse
Enlil's Official Story


Registered: 10/31/04
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Quote:
tymoteusz3 said:
Quote:
Icelander said:
Quote:
LunarEclipse said: Getting everyone wasting money on a common goal of wasting time on a common goal of embracing ridiculous odds to retain an unrealistic dream of personal happiness in a socialistic system?
My friend won $5000 the first time he played. He had to pay $1200 of it to tax if I remember right. 

Tax man wants his share.
Tax Man.
-------------------- Anxiety is what you make it.
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