The problem with the lottery

[traxx]

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com...rMillions.aspx
I know I'm in the minority, but I don't think we should have ever passed the lottery. This article just proves that point.

I know it's for education but it seems that we're robbing Peter to pay Paul on this. We're fixing the problem of school funding by creating a brand new problem.

I know people will say "did you want all that money going to Texas and surrounding states for their lotteries" but I think the actual amount that Oklahomans spent on other states' lotteries was negligible. Now Oklahomans are spending a ton of money on their own lottery and alot of them can't really afford to throw that money away on a lotter but they do anyway because they think it's their ticket out of the poorhouse and it's actually the thing that's helping to keep them there.

And as far as the money going to a lock box for schools, well, that's a totally different issue. I still don't believe that none of it will get siphoned off for other pet projects. I will believe it when I see it.

Again, just read the article, I think it's eye opening.

[Patrick]

but I think the actual amount that Oklahomans spent on other states' lotteries was negligible.

That's incorrect. Tons of moeny left the state borders on lottery tickets.

And, the lottery is a choice. People don't have to buy lottery tickets.

[CowboyConservative]

I am an avid player of the Oklahoma Lottery. I have yet to see anyone walk in and ask for more than a few dollars worth of tickets.

Most of people play for fun. They use the money they would be blowing on something else that most would consider useless. I think Blockbuster Video is a waste of money. Do I criticise people for that? No I don't. I spend money on $10 dollar car washes every week and I spend more than most people do on take out.

We all have our own methods of wasting money. I think spending money on frivalous items is good for everyone. It make you feel good and it makes going to work worth while. The only people who bash lotteries are banks and churches because they want your money for their needs. A "business trip" for the bank president and his mistress, a new cadillac for the preacher, a new wing on a church that is really too big in the first place.

[Keith]

I am an avid player of the Oklahoma Lottery. I have yet to see anyone walk in and ask for more than a few dollars worth of tickets.

Most of people play for fun. They use the money they would be blowing on something else that most would consider useless. I think Blockbuster Video is a waste of money. Do I criticise people for that? No I don't. I spend money on $10 dollar car washes every week and I spend more than most people do on take out.

We all have our own methods of wasting money. I think spending money on frivalous items is good for everyone. It make you feel good and it makes going to work worth while. The only people who bash lotteries are banks and churches because they want your money for their needs. A "business trip" for the bank president and his mistress, a new cadillac for the preacher, a new wing on a church that is really too big in the first place.

C'mon, don't be shy, tell us how you really feel...... .

[sweetdaisy]

Not sure how this article proves that we shouldn't have passed the lottery? Just because some people can't manage their money doesn't mean everyone can't. That would be like saying we shouldn't drive cars because some people cause car wrecks. This article proves nothing except that some folks don't make very wise choices.

I agree with both of the posts above...no one is forcing anyone to play and most people play responsibly.

[Easy180]

The poor spend much more on bingo and casinos than the lottery...If you don't believe it just take a look around the casinos next time...On appearances only it looks as if many in there are playing w/ their rent money

At least the lottery is going towards education...As a product of S.OKC public schools I can confirm any extra money they can get is a good thing

[Midtowner]

The article starts by giving a non-representative sample (or at least, it doesn't make the case that we have a representative sample of lottery winners). It then procedes to draw a generalized conclusion from those few examples. I don't find it convincing in the least.

It seems to take a rather paternalistic view of things -- the poor must be a permanent underclass, and we ought to remove any method where by chance they might rise above their current social status. The article tries to put forward the notion that the poor 'just can't handle it.' I find that to be extremely insulting.

[Patrick]

If you want to get rid of everything that people could participate in irresonsibly, let's get rid of alcohol, cigarettes, marriages, religion, swimming pools, interstates, automobiles, car audio equipment, the stock market, over-priced homes, credit cards, money, significant others, the opposite sex, fast-food restaurants, junk food, ice cream, lard, milk, cholesterol, fried foods, sugar-filled foods, soft drinks, airplanes, boats, ......must I go on?

People spend their money on lots of things that can get them in trouble.

[traxx]

These sad-but-true tales are not uncommon, say the experts

It's not just a few people in the story that can't handle the money it seems to be a majority. And most people who think if they win the lottery that it won't happen to them, is just next in line to be a statistic.

True, the lottery is a choice, but for the uninformed and undereducated, it may seem to be a choice they just can't pass up as it is their ticket to a better life. It's preying on the ingorance of the poor. And, no, I'm not saying poor people are stupid. By ignorance, I'm saying they have a lack of information. Most people on this board will say that playing the lottery is just done in fun, but the posters on this board are not a representative sample of Oklahoma.

As far as the lottery equaling Blockbuster, someone may see renting movies as a waste of time and money, but when you go into Blockbuster if you pay your money, you get a movie. With the lottery, over 99% of the time when you pay your money you get nothing. You're just paying for a chance and when the numbers are revealed that piece of paper is worth nothing.

I also understand that the poor spend a bunch of money on bingo and casinos and as far as I'm concerned those fall into the same category as lottery as putting your money to chance.

And don't tell me that stocks are just legalized gambling because the statistics don't support that view.

[Midtowner]

It's not just a few people in the story that can't handle the money it seems to be a majority. And most people who think if they win the lottery that it won't happen to them, is just next in line to be a statistic.

Is that just a superbroad generalization, or do you have something to back that up with other than some story citing a few tidbits of anecdotal evidence?

And don't tell me that stocks are just legalized gambling because the statistics don't support that view.

I think it's funny that you say this. You like to quote statistics (or refer to stats that maybe don't exist?) when they benefit you. When they don't, or you're just making it up as you go along, you'll ignore the stats.

To heck with the facts! If you think lotteries are harmful, then dernit, they must be.

Let's take another look at this though... When Bubba wins the lot'ree, gettin' him his millions, what does he do with that money? He spends it.

So of course, there are a lot of folks who benefit of the rather quick movement of millions of dollars through the economy. He might buy fancy cars for his relatives, thus bestowing a windfall in profits to the car dealership... He might go up to Lucky Star and feed a few thousand into some slot machines, thereby helping the Cheyenne & Arapaho Nations pay for scholarships, cultural programs, infrastructure, etc.

Bubba will go and spend his money, and there will be a lot of people better off for it. Maybe not him, but that's his own damned fault. Do you think he'd have rather not won it in the first place? I just don't buy it. Rather than giving the guy the opportunity to do right, you're assuming he'd do wrong, and you'd just take that opportunity right away from him.

I don't think there are too many folks out there who entertain the notion that they have much chance in hitting the jackpot -- even so, someone always does (won't be me since I personally don't gamble, I prefer a good mutual fund).

At any rate, I countered your hypothetical facts with a hypothetical story to illustrate some fantabulous moralistic conclusions (better than factual conclusions based on no facts since moralistic conclusions generally don't need facts, just an explanation of rhteir philosophical underpinnings). So try harder, post something we can work with here.

[Easy180]

State Lottery, Casinos Pump $89-Million Into Public Schools
AP - 9/5/2006 8:41 AM - Updated: 9/5/2006 8:43 AM
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Gamblers will contribute about $89-million to Oklahoma's public schools during the fiscal year that began July 1st.



Maybe that $89 Mil will go to better educate the poor and uninformed kids so the being poor cycle will stop with the parents

[rxis]

Lottery is a way to make business owners collect revenues for the state. It isn't worth putting up with but everyone participates because competing establishments offer it.

[Easy180]

rxis...Looks like businesses aren't just offering it just because their competitors are

Just read an article on Newsok that stated businesses have made over $15 million on commission alone and many are seeing increased sales resulting from the increased foot traffic

Many have stand alone automated lottery machines so they don't even have to deal with it and benefit from people coming in buying a coke etc

[ChristianConservative]

So why doesn't the large chain 7-11 get involved?

[Easy180]

If I remember correctly they were worried about getting robbed with the increased cash they would have to have on hand

[ChristianConservative]

If I remember correctly they were worried about getting robbed with the increased cash they would have to have on hand

That's the most ludicrous statement I've heard all day. Oh, not you being ludicrous, but a ludicrous excuse from 7-11.

[steveej]

I continue to be amazed at the blind spots in logic Oklahomans have concerning our state lottery. I could go for hours, but the most basic point is that any state government has no business explioting it's citizens in such a hideous fashion. All of the advertising playing on the allure of striking it rich, while knowing the published odds reveal a person is 280 times more likely get struck by lightening than win "the big one". The only logic I ever hear is, "well, someone has to win the money." Considering almost 1000 people die in our state every day, out of 3.5M people. That's way better odds than winning the jackpot. Just remember, "someone has to die"
With the odds stacked more in favor of my death than a big lottery win, I think I'll spend my money in a more enjoyable way than hanging out at convenience stores and waiting for ping pong balls to make me rich. It is so absurd!

[Midtowner]

Steve --

Easy solution: Don't buy a lottery ticket.

-- see how easy that is?

[mranderson]

Steve --

Easy solution: Don't buy a lottery ticket.

-- see how easy that is?

I will also add one thing. Those people that you think are wasting their money. If those same people, the very large majority of the voters in Oklahoma, had not passed the loettery, that smae money would be spent out of state. Most of it in that big hickhole armpit called Texas.

[MadMonk]

What I don't understand is why does someone get so upset over having the lottery when, its completely voluntary? I guess some people have an absurd need to control how others decide where to spend their money.

[Midtowner]

Exactly. This is essentially a voluntary tax for education.

What I find to be the most humorous about the opposition to the lottery is that it's largely based on lies (as shown above). You constantly hear things like "2/3 of the money goes to the management contracts" when it's easy enough to go to the lottery's website, download their financial disclosure statements and see that this is simply a lie.

So one sin which is actually in the Bible is being committed to protect potential sinners from a sin which is not in the Bible.

I'm assuming the objection is a religious one -- there's no way it could be so poorly thought out.



You're being negative again. Please stop scaring the new posters away.

[Easy180]

So the odds are extremely low I will win the $150 million powerball?...Who knew?...Hell I thought it was a one in ten chance of winning........A 150 million freakin dollars!

[steveej]

midtowner, In case you didn't notice, I already opted for your "simple solution" of just not buying a ticket, and clearly stated so. Surely though, you can't be foolish enough to think that it is really that simple. To think because I don't participate in this "volunteer tax" as some like to call it, means it does not affect me is simply ludicris. ALL Oklahomans are affected good or bad by what takes place in our state. I guess you can call it a volunteer tax considering no one is holding a gun to anyone's head to buy a ticket, but it's like dangling a carrot in front of rabbit, or a fifth of jack in front of an alchoholic and promising it'll solve all of his problems, not telling him it's more likely to end in alcohol poisoning or scorisis of the liver. It's just so disengenuinous to our citizens, some of which are desperate for a way out of poverty. As long as people are focusing on the "freakin 150M dollars" like Easy180, they'll forget the facts. Just so you know, I am not oppsed to people PLAYING a lottery or gambling away their fortune, or winning one, I just do not think it is the states place to be the lottery monopoly. Another example of how what illegal for you to do, is not for the state.

[Easy180]

ALL Oklahomans are affected good or bad by what takes place in our state.

steveej...You are exactly right...All Oklahomans are affected by the lottery as millions are being funneled into our sorry public school system

Stand outside a convenience store and poll those coming out w/ lottery tix..Not a one will tell you they expect to win with a straight face...Yes even the poor ones...They go to bingo parlors and casinos to try and win their way out of debt not through buying lottery tix

[steveej]

Yes they do, and maybe they'd be further ahead if the used the bingo, casino, and lottery ticket money for dept retirement or groceries instead of buying lottery tickets. Yet they keep buying 50 tickets a week to increase their chances of winning. Odds say at that rate of tickets per week, you'll win the lottery once every 5000 years. Ah, but someone has to win the money, why not me?