The idle musings of a former military man, former computer geek, medically retired pastor and now full-time writer. Contents guaranteed to offend the politically correct and anal-retentive from time to time. My approach to life is that it should be taken with a large helping of laughter, and sufficient firepower to keep it tamed!
Monday, October 29, 2018
For those of us who didn't win the Powerball jackpot . . .
. . . reader B. R. sends this inspirational graphic.
Years ago, when the State lotteries were first spreading, my Mother predicted that they would inevitably be followed by the spread of other legal forms of gambling, because a government that uses gambling as a source of revenue has no leg to stand on in opposing others who wish to do the same. Her Progressive/Liberal acquaintance scoffed.
*spit*
I note that the lotteries are less honest than the 'Numbers Racket' they are intended to replace.If the Mob promised one payout, and then played accounting tricks to deliver another, they would go out of business, fast. And since they don't make any bogus promises about where the money goes, they are inherently more honest on that front.
"I can promise youse, all the profits from this week's Numbers Game is gonna go to pay for the Boss's Mistress."
Come to think of it, I'd believe that one hell of a lot faster then I would believe the Government promising to spend lottery money on Education or 'Seniors'.
A $2 lottery ticket is the same as putting $2 on a horse or on a dog, it's fun & there is always that slim possibility that you might have the numbers!
Gambling is so much a part of being human that I have to wonder about the people who spend so much energy telling you you've a better chance of getting struck by lightening. People who bet $2 or $10 don't care & people who bet the month's rent money are just sad.
My daughter lives in a state with no lottery. Thinking as a teacher, she said that a lottery should be added to help give education extra money. I pointed out that states with lottery money invariably cut education spending because it doesn't get the politician's picture on TV. The "saved" budget money gets splashed around in visible, often worthless ways, and education is no better off. She may have a PhD in Literacy Education but....
I recall reading 1984 in high school. On the subject of the lottery (which at the time we knew nothing about) the teacher commented that when the state instituted a lottery it was a sign that the people had given up hope of getting wealthy by their own merits. This was many years before state sponsored lotteries were set up in America. He was a little odd, but it appears that he was smart (except for that little arson thing for burning down the failing restaurant he started as a means of supplementing his 1960s teacher's income).
Hahahahaha!
ReplyDeleteYup. :-)
Years ago, when the State lotteries were first spreading, my Mother predicted that they would inevitably be followed by the spread of other legal forms of gambling, because a government that uses gambling as a source of revenue has no leg to stand on in opposing others who wish to do the same. Her Progressive/Liberal acquaintance scoffed.
ReplyDelete*spit*
I note that the lotteries are less honest than the 'Numbers Racket' they are intended to replace.If the Mob promised one payout, and then played accounting tricks to deliver another, they would go out of business, fast. And since they don't make any bogus promises about where the money goes, they are inherently more honest on that front.
"I can promise youse, all the profits from this week's Numbers Game is gonna go to pay for the Boss's Mistress."
Come to think of it, I'd believe that one hell of a lot faster then I would believe the Government promising to spend lottery money on Education or 'Seniors'.
A $2 lottery ticket is the same as putting $2 on a horse or on a dog, it's fun & there is always that slim possibility that you might have the numbers!
ReplyDeleteGambling is so much a part of being human that I have to wonder about the people who spend so much energy telling you you've a better chance of getting struck by lightening.
People who bet $2 or $10 don't care & people who bet the month's rent money are just sad.
My daughter lives in a state with no lottery. Thinking as a teacher, she said that a lottery should be added to help give education extra money. I pointed out that states with lottery money invariably cut education spending because it doesn't get the politician's picture on TV. The "saved" budget money gets splashed around in visible, often worthless ways, and education is no better off. She may have a PhD in Literacy Education but....
ReplyDeleteI recall reading 1984 in high school.
ReplyDeleteOn the subject of the lottery (which at the time we knew nothing about) the teacher commented that when the state instituted a lottery it was a sign that the people had given up hope of getting wealthy by their own merits.
This was many years before state sponsored lotteries were set up in America.
He was a little odd, but it appears that he was smart (except for that little arson thing for burning down the failing restaurant he started as a means of supplementing his 1960s teacher's income).
Why I never waste my time with the lottery.
ReplyDelete