Thread: Lottery Tickets

This is more a rant, but, what the hell.
I have a deli downstairs and nearly everyday I am stuck in line behind what looks to be a homeless person or at least someone who looks to be financially hurting buying butt loads of lottery tickets. Like nearly everday. And they are paying in nickels and dimes.

Does anyone else notice this type of thing? Could this be the superfluous type of spending that causes a lot of low income people to not have enough money to feed themselves much less their children? Do you agree to giving welfare checks to people only to have them spend it on lottery tickets? Do you feel a lot of these people are looking more towards a get rich quick without work plan rather than a get a job and earn money plan?

It annoys the crap out of me.

That and the people smell and hold up the line counting their 200 pennies, but that's a different story.

Originally Posted by freckles

This is more a rant, but, what the hell.
I have a deli downstairs and nearly everyday I am stuck in line behind what looks to be a homeless person or at least someone who looks to be financially hurting buying butt loads of lottery tickets. Like nearly everday. And they are paying in nickels and dimes.

Does anyone else notice this type of thing? Could this be the superfluous type of spending that causes a lot of low income people to not have enough money to feed themselves much less their children? Do you agree to giving welfare checks to people only to have them spend it on lottery tickets? Do you feel a lot of these people are looking more towards a get rich quick without work plan rather than a get a job and earn money plan?

It annoys the crap out of me.

That and the people smell and hold up the line counting their 200 pennies, but that's a different story.

That's why the schmucks are where they are. Stupid financial decisions and too irresponsible to work for a living. (in most cases)

Originally Posted by freckles

This is more a rant, but, what the hell.
I have a deli downstairs and nearly everyday I am stuck in line behind what looks to be a homeless person or at least someone who looks to be financially hurting buying butt loads of lottery tickets. Like nearly everday. And they are paying in nickels and dimes.

Does anyone else notice this type of thing? Could this be the superfluous type of spending that causes a lot of low income people to not have enough money to feed themselves much less their children? Do you agree to giving welfare checks to people only to have them spend it on lottery tickets? Do you feel a lot of these people are looking more towards a get rich quick without work plan rather than a get a job and earn money plan?

It annoys the crap out of me.

That and the people smell and hold up the line counting their 200 pennies, but that's a different story.

It all has to do with marketing (unfortunately). Lotteries should be marketed as entertainment, not as a substitute for financial planning, hard work, a 401 K plan, and a good education. Unfortunately, there is something in the marketing strategy, for most lotteries, that harkens back to the "cinderalla" fantasy we were read (or saw on Disney) as a child.

People like the idea of getting something for nothing- and the more desperate you are, the more this idea appeals.

The truth is that most people win exactly what the odds say they should win (about $1 in California). Realistically, your odds are somewhat better of being a victim of violent crime than they are of winning the "big prize." People have trouble figuring that fact out. As a result you end up with those who can least afford to spend the cash buyin lottery tickets- hoping against hope that they will hit a big payday.

The rest of us view it as cheap entertainment. We pay a buck, indulge in a brief fantasy, check our numbers and if we don't win- then we go back to work the next day. Our lives don't hinge on that fantasy, and neither should theirs.

I think we should go back to the old methodology of actually distributing food. Right now we pay farmers and growers to plow crops under and to destroy their produce. My feeling is that the government should distribute the food, just like it did when I was a kid. Solves the problem of food stamps and lottery tickets, now doesn't it?

The lottery is just a tax on people who are bad at math.

Originally Posted by freckles

This is more a rant, but, what the hell.
I have a deli downstairs and nearly everyday I am stuck in line behind what looks to be a homeless person or at least someone who looks to be financially hurting buying butt loads of lottery tickets. Like nearly everday. And they are paying in nickels and dimes.

Does anyone else notice this type of thing? Could this be the superfluous type of spending that causes a lot of low income people to not have enough money to feed themselves much less their children? Do you agree to giving welfare checks to people only to have them spend it on lottery tickets? Do you feel a lot of these people are looking more towards a get rich quick without work plan rather than a get a job and earn money plan?

It annoys the crap out of me.

That and the people smell and hold up the line counting their 200 pennies, but that's a different story.

When I look at the hordes of people who act like this I say this is stupidity.

When I think of this one man I feel sorry for this man who is deluded into this false hope.

Originally Posted by freckles

This is more a rant, but, what the hell.
I have a deli downstairs and nearly everyday I am stuck in line behind what looks to be a homeless person or at least someone who looks to be financially hurting buying butt loads of lottery tickets. Like nearly everday. And they are paying in nickels and dimes.

Does anyone else notice this type of thing? Could this be the superfluous type of spending that causes a lot of low income people to not have enough money to feed themselves much less their children? Do you agree to giving welfare checks to people only to have them spend it on lottery tickets? Do you feel a lot of these people are looking more towards a get rich quick without work plan rather than a get a job and earn money plan?

It annoys the crap out of me.

That and the people smell and hold up the line counting their 200 pennies, but that's a different story.

I notice this and I think to myself; Why, why is the state government in the business of running gambling? How is this the business of the government? It is completely wrong. And look who is often playing it? The poor. And they are made poorer by it. It is immoral.

I knew a similar amn who tried his best to convince me that he supported his self by playing the lottery Full-time. Scratch offs even!!

This is no different then these two scumbags I know who collect welfare, pay literally not exagerating, $38/month rent for a brand new 3 bedroom townhome in Camden, NJ, Lives together with another welfare recipient, who lies about his address, and refuses to get married so not to disrupt his check. They spend every dime they have on Over-priced clothes and cells phones. Whats he difference in the mind set here, not much.

Originally Posted by justoneman

I notice this and I think to myself; Why, why is the state government in the business of running gambling? How is this the business of the government? It is completely wrong. And look who is often playing it? The poor. And they are made poorer by it. It is immoral.

I agree. Its like the whole gun and liquor store on every corner in our ghettos, say what you want its true. Our nation pushes the poor deeper and deeper into the Bad habits. God I hate Welfare! I understand it uses are necessary, but the system is too......lazy

Give them food, but weigh them first.

Don't give them cash.

Don't pay for them to live in privately owned housing, bring back the projects. Make living in the projects a choice whereby the tenant surrenders all fourth amendment rights, ie, the cops can come search when they want to. If they don't like it, they don't have to live in taxpayer financed housing. We provide freeway underpasses for truly free accomodations, or they can try their luck asking a socialist for his personal support.

Crimes committed in the projects carry an extra five year penalty, just because we know putting violent criminals in jail is the best way of reducing violent crime out here (unlike gun-grabbing laws, locking the bad guys up actually works).

And don't give bums change. It only encourages them. If you have to give, give it to a registered reliable charity, who at least will make some effort to stop the wino's from buying booze.

Yeah, and the government shouldn't be in the lottery business. It's just a scam.

Originally Posted by justoneman

I notice this and I think to myself; Why, why is the state government in the business of running gambling? How is this the business of the government? It is completely wrong. And look who is often playing it? The poor. And they are made poorer by it. It is immoral.

Gambling preys on the poor and the stupid.

That being said: if the state can make money by operating a business which brings in all it's income through voluntary purchases, why can't the state bring in all of it's revenue through voluntary purchases?

do you want your garbage picked up? Then don't pay a tax for it, pay for the service.

Out where I live we have private garbage collection and I am not aware of a single household that does not have the service. we also pay a whole lot less than we did in my last neighborhood where the city provided the service.