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Not really.
The lottery is paid for by those who all have an equal chance of winning that prize. Also, the profits from lotteries are usually spent on social funds etc.
I feel more conflicted about thr fact that it preys on addiction and those who buy the most lottery tickets are often those who can least afford them. I find that much more grotesque than a random person getting very lucky, but to each their own.
Half would go to the government no?
In the US, close to half of the winnings do go to the lottery, plus a portion of each lottery ticket usually goes to fund some government agency. Schools, programs for the impoverished and disenfranchised, etc.
The real question, in my opinion, is if you are willing to spend that much money on a ticket, why aren't you willing to spend that much money on just outright funding government programs? Imagine if 100% of what someone paid for a ticket went to programs for the disenfranchised? That could make real difference.
I spend about $10 per year on lottery tickets. I pay upwards of $40k in taxes, much of which is funneled to "disenfranchised". I'm good, thanks.
Ok, but if you had a guarantee that your $10 would go directly to the disenfranchised with no chances of returning millions to you, how would that change things?
Handing money out to the "disenfranchised" solves nothing, thus it never ends. I am for real solutions, like education and a strong family unit. But, you know, having that opinion means I am racist/classist/whatever "ist".
Love the quote marks around disenfranchised. Real classy.
Let's see... cursory glance at post history indicates... Yep, right wing, anti union and against a living wage. That all tracks.
Quote marks because "disenfranchised" is subjective. And wow, you have mad skills to look at someone's post history. Aren't you quite the haxxor?
I consider myself moderate. Lefty tools such as yourself label anyone that disagrees with them as right wing racist maga nazis. Fuck you.
I am anti union. Unions served a great purpose 100 years ago. Now they are corrupt shake down organizations that contribute to inflation and drive jobs out of the country. But if someone wants to join one, I don't care, it's none of my business. Just don't use my tax dollars to fund any of it.
Living wage. There is this idiotic entitlement mentality that people somehow deserve a "living wage" simply for consuming oxygen. Here is the truth: people are paid what they are worth. If you are providing real value to an employer, they will pay you enough to retain you. If they don't, find another employer. Rinse and repeat.
But nah, it's easier to blame shortcomings on billionaires/Trump/"the man"/"disenfranchisement" and hope some politician will send you money for your vote.
It seems to simply be a difference in values. I personally think a human being has value simply for existing, and many others would agree on this. Nothing idiotic about valuing different things.
We are in agreement, humans do have value. My point is that a living wage is possible, but it requires effort and sometimes tough decisions. Everyone should have the opportunity to better their lives, but I disagree that everyone is entitled to a 'living wage' simply for being alive. Have you not been to a restaurant where the service was terrible? Do those employees deserve a living wage?
It seems that where we differ is they yes, I do think that employee providing shitty service deserves a living wage. But more importantly, there's so much that people do for us that should be paid but isn't, or that isn't paid enough to live off of but should be. People who volunteer their time to clean up public spaces, to help take care of the sick and elderly or young children, people producing art for the rest of us to enjoy, people doing doing fundamental research on topics that aren't currently trendy, and likely many more that aren't coming to mind right now.
Their choice to provide shitty service is also a choice to not have a "living wage".
Just cut to the point and say you hate poor people already.
Nah, I hate dumbasses. Like you.
That depends on the government in question. For example, the Canadian government does not have a claim on any kind of lottery or game show winnings.
On the first year I believe.
First of all, they are not getting $1.2B. The lump sum cash value is $551.7M. The usually reported jackpots are presented in terms of the value of a 30 year annuity.
Second, those winnings are before taxes. After taxes, depending on the state, the person will walk away with $280m-350m.
Now, sure, that is still an absurd amount, but still like 1/4th the stated jackpot.
That's more reasonable.
Also most lottery winners end up dead or bankrupt within a few years of winning.
I guess that's my point
I think it's somewhat charming tbh. Everyone gets a tiny, miniscule chance of never having to work again. I rarely buy a ticket, but when I do I spend all week imagining all the fun things I'd do with the money.
As the other poster said, though, it's sad when folks get addicted to it.
Considering how many of their lives go off the rails, yes.
It's not as grotesque as the mundane realities that we accept as normal under capitalism
It’s grotesque for ANYONE to have a billion dollars. Arguably the lottery winner is the only one to achieve that wealth by even sort-of ethical means.
