Quote:
Originally Posted by rubicon
Isn't it interesting that the government for years arrested people for gambling but when they can get into the act well perhaps gambling is not immoral after all.
I also find it ironic that the government sponsors gambling but requires a "gamblers anonymous" poster at every station.
The powerball was once called Lotto America and you could purchase two lines for $1. Then they added the powerball number and charged $1 for one line. Now it cost $2 for one line and they regrouped the numbers to increase the odds of winning. Worse yet they announce the powerball climbed to, in this case, $1.3 billion when in fact that is future value based on a hypothetical annuity which is misleading. Brought down to present value about half the proceeds then subtract taxes and I suspect hidden fees. Yes I agree its still can be a sizeable amount but I detest this kind of marketing. Just as I detest their "you can't win if you don't play. People have as much a chance getting bitten by a shark in Iowa then winning the lottery.
Oh wait there are sharks in Iowa their called presidential candidates
The reality is not too many people will resist buying a ticket or two for a chance at 1.3 billion...its in our DNA
|
The lottery is a de facto tax on the poor. Which then becomes a de facto tax on the middle class. Government 1, the people 0.