Repeal the Lottery?

[Rico]

quote:Originally posted by rwarn17588

To say the lottery benefits no one is a bit much.

The businesses that sell ticket get ancillary business, the winners certainly do benefit, and schools *do* get money from it -- just not as much as projected.

Time for Rico to use his trademarked "Cubs" in flaming letters. [}:)]

Actually... Cubs kinda sounds like he has lost a few bucks to the Lottery Criminals....

Had me kinda feeling sorry for him...[]

Ah... What the Hell........!

[marc]

As usual, Republicans want their fat cat buddies to be able to gamble at the stock market, but don't want less affluent folks to spend a few bucks a week on a lottery ticket.

[deinstein]

quote:Originally posted by marc

As usual, Republicans want their fat cat buddies to be able to gamble at the stock market, but don't want less affluent folks to spend a few bucks a week on a lottery ticket.

But...but...buying a ticket for a buck at the corner store is causing social problems!

[}:)]

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by recyclemichael

How come republicans are always against having fun?

I heard a comparison that democrats are "mom" and republicans are "dad." Mom takes care of you, keeps you fed and makes sure you have a place to sleep. The dads are there to tell you no and delve out punishment to you and anyone that he feel threatens the family.

Hey look Lois, the two symbols of the Republican Party. An elephant and a fat white guy who is threatened by change.

[Rico]

Regardless of what people think.... the Government should not play the role of protecting us from ourselves....

Coool new Avatar sgrizzle....!

[}:)]

[RLitterell]

quote:Originally posted by Cubs

Get rid of the lottery. It does no good. It doesn't help education. Very few get more than they put in and it ruins the lives of those who do win big. It helps no one.

I wish I could ruin my life by winning[]

[grahambino]

what 'social problems' is the lottery creating that were not present before?

more litter?  since when does the GOP care about the environment?

Daxon's argument is asinine.  I heard that Proctor & Gamble missed their earnings target last quarter.  I guess they had a good run.

[cannon_fodder]

I know this may be completely out of line, but how about this:

THE GOVERNMENT SHOULDNT SPEND MONEY IT DOESNT HAVE.

Crazy, I know.

In the interest of full disclosure, I would vote to keep the lottery if it were run as a non-profit.  I simply dont care.  As long as it isnt costing the state money, it doesnt bother me a bit.  I would also vote to approve all classes of gambling in a casino district in Tulsa for all races of people.  I think its funny that everyone is ok with the form of gambling most profitable to the casinos but are against it if it involves cards or dice.  Slot machines make most of the money at casinos and have the worst payout ratio, yet no one is even talking about getting rid of them while we still ban dice games.  Dumb dumb dumb.

The point is, the lottery is not the problem.  The problem is an inept government that thought THEY had won the lottery and spent like it before the check cleared.  The lottery brought the state an extra $80,000,000.00 in revenue last year and somehow they turned that into a budget crisis.  Morons.

The lack of responsibility in our country extends from welfare recipient selling food stamps to play the lottery to the congressmen cutting education budgets counting on lottery money.

So much for the 'lock box.'  I say we keep the lottery, but instead of ADDING the revenue to the state budget it creates a new trust account to fund college education for every B student in Oklahoma.  

ps. throwing money at schools hasnt done any good in the past 15 years, it probably wont do any now.

[Steve]

quote:Originally posted by recyclemichael

How come republicans are always against having fun?

I have been a registered Democrat for 32 years, vote the Democrat ticket nearly 98% of the time, and I will always be against a state lottery.  It is not a partisan or religious issue for me.  I just don't think government should be involved in promoting a big state sponsored rat hole (lottery) for people to throw their money into in the hopes of getting rich quick.

I think it quite odd how people foam at the mouth at the bare mention of a tax increase, but get nearly orgasmic about lotteries or casino gambling.  I guess it is just a personal thing, but I will never understand how any form of gambling can possibly be considered fun.

[marc]

quote:Originally posted by Steve

quote:Originally posted by recyclemichael

How come republicans are always against having fun?

I have been a registered Democrat for 32 years, vote the Democrat ticket nearly 98% of the time, and I will always be against a state lottery.  It is not a partisan or religious issue for me.  I just don't think government should be involved in promoting a big state sponsored rat hole (lottery) for people to throw their money into in the hopes of getting rich quick.

I think it quite odd how people foam at the mouth at the bare mention of a tax increase, but get nearly orgasmic about lotteries or casino gambling.  I guess it is just a personal thing, but I will never understand how any form of gambling can possibly be considered fun.

It's pretty simple, tax increases are compulsory, lotteries and casino gambling are voluntary.

[Conan71]

I read Daxon's comments in the Whirled this morning.  I fail to see the connection between the lottery and all these new bankruptcies and foreclosures.  He offers nothing other than hyperbole in his argument.

The lottery itself I would think is potentially less detrimental to someone's personal finances than casino gaming.  I don't recall ever seeing anyone spend more than $10 at the Quick Trip counter buying lottery tix.  Not saying people don't spend more, but they don't disappear into a black hole like a casino for three hours with $300 and come out with nothing.  Casinos are designed to retain people and get them to stay until the majority of the money they came with is spent.  

I don't recall at the moment which other poster said it, but I agree a government doesn't exist to protect people from their own compulsions or lack of common sense.  I'm against government baby-sitting.  If people quit going to casinos on their own or quit playing the lottery, those industries will disappear without government intervention.  It's supply and demand, if demand goes away, so will the suppliers.

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by Conan71

I read Daxon's comments in the Whirled this morning.  I fail to see the connection between the lottery and all these new bankruptcies and foreclosures.  He offers nothing other than hyperbole in his argument.

The lottery itself I would think is potentially less detrimental to someone's personal finances than casino gaming.  I don't recall ever seeing anyone spend more than $10 at the Quick Trip counter buying lottery tix.  Not saying people don't spend more, but they don't disappear into a black hole like a casino for three hours with $300 and come out with nothing.  Casinos are designed to retain people and get them to stay until the majority of the money they came with is spent.  

I don't recall at the moment which other poster said it, but I agree a government doesn't exist to protect people from their own compulsions or lack of common sense.  I'm against government baby-sitting.  If people quit going to casinos on their own or quit playing the lottery, those industries will disappear without government intervention.  It's supply and demand, if demand goes away, so will the suppliers.

People lose hundreds or thousands at casinos and  maybe $10 on the lottery. It's $1 to play powerball. If you pay $20, they aren't going to draw 20 times. Just doesn't happen.

Lottery tickets have helped people like quiktrip who were losing customers due to the changes in tobacco tax.

If you're really concerned with people overspending, make casinos cash-only and ban atm's from the premises.

[MichaelC]

There's virtually no chance the Lottery is going to be repealed.  It's just politics, to win a few votes.

[cannon_fodder]

Sgrizzle - do you really think banning ATMs from casinos would do any good?  The QT next door would simply see its ATM traffic go through the roof.  To me that sounds like a great government bandaid solution that would do nothing at all.  

Like, for instance, making me walk next door to buy soda for my scotch.

Or making me stock up on wine on Saturday for Sunday dinner.

Or decreasing the BAC to .08 when most DUIs are over .15

Or allowing slot machines and banning dice.

Or any number of other government 'solutions' that no nothing but frustrate business and citizens.

[Conan71]

Grizz, new avatar- is that "Moh cowbell!"?