Do you pay prole tax?

Sidhe · Mar 30, 2006

I was in the supermarket earlier and I saw someone buying 40 quids worth of scratch cards? And the thought hit me of the odds I know.

Match 6 of 6 main numbers - 1 : 13,983,816

Match 5 of 6 numbers plus the bonus number - 1 : 2,330,636

Match 5 of 6 main numbers - 1 : 55,492

Match 4 of 6 main numbers - 1 : 1,033

Match 3 of 6 main numbers - 1 : 57

Any prize - 1 : 54

Scratch card odds are equally if not more unlikely, so why do people do it, I know the thrill of betting on Liverpool to win vs Chelsea in the semi of the FA cup hell I'll put a few quid on the game. Maybe a pound on Liverpool to win or the first goal scorer or whatever, hell I usually bet on the other side too just to spice up the odds and the game, I understand the thrill of gambelling well. But I'm up against odds of 50-1 at most??? Why would anyone in there right mind bet on a 14million to 1 shot? Is this simply a government tax on the stupid or is it actually worth playing the lottery? Or buying scratch cards for that matter?

Rambuchan · Mar 30, 2006

Indeed this is a tax. One I don't pay and one I don't encourage others to pay. That is, unless you feel good about exchanging your hard earned money for false hopes and to fund opera going people's recreational facilities. I always point out how those who play these Lottery tax games hardly ever see the benefits of such grants to councils or enterprises. It's state sponsored Robin Hood in reverse.

Bartleby · Mar 30, 2006

Never played it.

PrinceOfLeigh · Mar 30, 2006

I've not played simply because I see a lottery ticket and then I see the coke and mars bar I can by for the same amount. There's no real choice what I'm gonna spend my money on

I've bought the odd ticket when I've had divine inspiration that I thought meant I was destined to win, turned out God was toying with me.

I prefer betting on sport. Especially games that otherwise I would have no interest in whatsoever.

Lambert Simnel · Mar 30, 2006

A tax on the stupid. And the desperate. And the dreamers. I'm morally opposed to the lottery (well, mildly so), and never play it. On the other hand, of all the great injustices in the world which I have on my list to rectify before bedtime, this doesn't figure.

Rik Meleet · Mar 30, 2006

A lottery is not that much different from an insurance. In case a thing with small odds happens (house on fire / bad disease / Van Nistelrooij plays :mischief:

) you get financial compensated.
If you don't put money into gambling or insurances, you are better off in the long run - if the event does not happen.

If it does happen you'll be worse off.

That said: I am insured and I don't play the lottery.

Sidhe · Mar 30, 2006

Rik Meleet said:
A lottery is not that much different from an insurance. In case a thing with small odds happens (house on fire / bad disease / Van Nistelrooij plays ) you get financial compensated.
If you don't put money into gambling or insurances, you are better off in the long run - if the event does not happen.

If it does happen you'll be worse off.

That said: I am insured and I don't play the lottery.

Not a perfect analogy is theres a statistically good chance you'll claim on your house insurance at some time in your life(you can be sure of acts of God or man) You can't put a price on peace of mind though. But you can't be sure you'll ever win anything in your entire life on the lottery.

I find the whole thing a bit bemusing, the odd pound here or there on the lottery, well fine, it's a bit of fun. But some people spend hundreds of pounds a week on this pipe dream? Bizarre?

Taliesin · Mar 30, 2006

On my 18th birthday, I told God that I would buy a lottery ticket that day, and that if He wished me to become fabulously wealthy, He had better make the appropriate arrangements. I didn't win, so I presume the cosmic Plan does not include a multimillionaire Taliesin, and I won't bother playing again.

Robin Hood in reverse.

I can't help it, this phrase immediately conjured to mind a certain idealistic, if misguided, folk hero:

Sidhe · Mar 30, 2006

isn't that Dick Turpin, yes that's much more apt robbing from the Rich to give to himself :goodjob:

it's usually robbing from the poor to give to the rich though

Taliesin · Mar 30, 2006

Not quite...

He steals from the poor,
And gives to the rich--
Stupid *****!

Bartleby · Mar 30, 2006

Lupins????

PrinceOfLeigh · Mar 30, 2006

Sidhe said:
Why would anyone in there right mind bet on a 14million to 1 shot?

I've heard 'real' gamblers claim never to play the lottery for this very reason. They also refuse to make 'Coincidence Bets' ie betting on a horse with your son's name. It's the quickest way to the poor house aparently.

Sidhe said:
But some people spend hundreds of pounds a week on this pipe dream? Bizarre?

Probably the same financially minded people who believe the "consolidate all your existing loans into easily managed monthly payments." (for the rest of your stinking debt ridden life) BS.

Rambuchan · Mar 30, 2006

This is what my local, lottery ticket selling newsagent looks like.

I'm in caption mode today, please chip in.

"Would you like a Thunderball card, or perhaps the rollover Euromillions? Eitherway, dear customer, stand and deliver!!!"

PrinceOfLeigh · Mar 30, 2006

Rambuchan said:

Ahh Adam and his Ants. What a man. Hasn't he gone a bit :crazyeye:

these days? I say 'gone'...

Sidhe · Mar 30, 2006

Taliesin said:
Not quite...

He steals from the poor,
And gives to the rich--
Stupid *****!

Ah my mistake it's Dennis Moore, sorry I missed the lupins.

PrinceOfLeigh said:
Probably the same financially minded people who believe the "consolidate all your existing loans into easily managed monthly payments." (for the rest of your stinking debt ridden life) BS.

cynic

PrinceOfLeigh said:
I've heard 'real' gamblers claim never to play the lottery for this very reason. They also refuse to make 'Coincidence Bets' ie betting on a horse with your son's name. It's the quickest way to the poor house aparently.

I'm neither a lottery player nor a real gambler thank God.

bhsup · Mar 30, 2006

It's not a tax. Taxes are not voluntary, lotteries are. It's a voluntary donation to your local/regional/federal (or national for you non-Americans)/whatever general fund or whatever specific fund it is earmarked for.

Here in Missouri, it is earmarked for education. I get two picks of numbers eack week that covers the two powerball drawings held each week, so that's a whopping $4.00 that I pretty much write off.

I certainly don't expect to win, but then again I won't refuse the winnings either if my numbers did come up.

Heh! Can you imagine the look on your local pastor's face if he were to suddenly be given a check for the 10% tithe on a 200 million powerball winning?!

Sidhe · Mar 30, 2006

I think that's the problem a vast amount of it goes to Opera houses and the privellaged. far too much goes to the middle and upper classes and far to little to the poor. Richard Branson should run it as a non profit making organisation, the only reason he didn't win the tender last time is the government can't tax non profit organisations. Bastages!!! :rolleyes:

If we knew all the money was going to help the poor out fine, but a big wedge is going straight into Camelots gaping bank account.

PrinceOfLeigh · Mar 30, 2006

Sidhe said:
I'm neither a lottery player nor a real gambler thank God.

I didn't mean to insinuate that you are. I was just refering to those fellas who sit in Ladbrooks all day long. Also those 'pro-gamblers' who tell you about every win indepth but then forget to mention the losses.

Sidhe said:
cynic

Quilty as charged

Rambuchan · Mar 30, 2006

Sidhe said:
If we knew all the money was going to help the poor out fine, but a big wedge is going straight into Camelots gaping bank account.

Aye. And that's what grates.

VRWA: Nitpicking about the definition of taxes will not change the fact that this is a tax in its effects. ie. People front their money to a general fund and never see the results.

As James Brown asked in a landmark funk album track title: "I'm payin' taxes, but what am I gettin'?"

The answer is -$4.00 x 52 x the number of years you've been playing.

Then add that result to some elitist claptrap organisation's revenues and know that you ain't seeing it ever again. Like Lambert said, for the desperate, the poor, the dreamers. I recommend you give $4 directly to the paster each week instead.

bhsup · Mar 30, 2006

I'm not nitpicking. If they are voluntarily purchasing something and don't have to, it's not a tax, pure and simple. Don't like it? Don't buy it.

Do you pay prole tax?

Should we play the lottery

YES!: You've got to be in it to win it

NO!: total waste of money

yeah the odd scratch card is fine

Never played it?

Deity

The Funky President

Remembers laughter

Wigan, England

One across

Top predator

Deity

Puttin' on the Ritz

Deity

Puttin' on the Ritz

Remembers laughter

Wigan, England

The Funky President

Wigan, England

Deity

Deity

Deity

Wigan, England

The Funky President

Deity

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