Stupidity Tax Funds Education

[drdigi420]

Does anyone else find it ironic that the money raised from people engaging in a stupid activity (gambling against outrageous odds with no influence over the outcome) is funding the education initiatives in states like Georgia?

At least this is the thought I console myself with whenever I have the misfortune of visiting a 'convenience' store that doesnt have a seperate Lottery line.

[drdigi420]

1. must be just me

[pbeal]

2. I find it ironic as well

Its a tax on poor stupid people. Its also another way the wealthy get around their obligation to the society that made them wealthy.

My wife got tired of me bitching about it, I am no longer alowed to speak of the lottery around her.

[sybylla]

3. Sounds to me like education

is precisely where it should be going. My spouse calls the lottery a tax on people who are bad at math. I think it is pretty harmless by and large. Of course ten years ago I used to know people who actually won something in the lottery. Either they quit playing or it quit paying.

In my state lottery money goes for property tax relief. I think it could be better managed, though. Not much relief any more. I think if it went to education, there might be fewer people who balk at it. Might encourage more gambling since we tend to value education here.

[drdigi420]

5. I agree, the money should go to education

But the irony of the source is not lost on me.

[whoYaCallinAlib]

4. You are absolutely correct . . . the "stupidity tax" subsidizes rich

The odds are ALWAYS stacked in the house's favor. The more you gamble, the MORE CERTAIN it is that you are going to lose. Over time, you will lose 12-14 cents of every dollar bet in a slot machine. The odds are a little better for craps and better still for blackjack. But, in all cases, the house is going to take in more than they pay out. No doubt about it. And the people losing the most are the people least able to afford losing.

It's a shame because government's take a big share of the house winnings to fund education as you say. If it were not for the gambling taxes, local governements would have to raise taxes on the rich to fund education. So, in essence, the poor end up subsidizing the rich. But it is their own fault!!! If they want to throw their money away by gambling, then they have no one but themselves to blame. Unfortunately, poor kids are getting hurt when their parents gamble away food money.

[Hanuman]

6. Yes, I find it ironic...

Repubs call the lottery a "tax for people who would not otherwise pay taxes." And I suppose there is a kernal of truth to that. Don't know what the stats are, but I'd say a larger proportion of the lottery revenue comes from the lower classes, (and therefore from the less educated, perhaps) than from the upper.

And here in CA, some of the proceeds do in fact find their way to the schools.

But, hey, it's freedom of choice. And I've played as well when the pot is good and juicy.

I had a dream one night that I won a big pot- went out the next day and bought a ticket.

I guess that's pretty stupid, too.

[JackDragna]

8. Here's a sobering stat for you, since you asked..

80% of all lottery proceeds, both in multi-state games and in-state games, come from the same 20% of the population.

[JackDragna]

7. The really ironic thing about it..

..is that the lottery, all ethical questions about the state running a numbers game aside, is a very poor way of generating revenue. The lottery requires much more overhead to run than it would to hire enough people to process all the paperwork required to get the money through traditional taxation. Lotteries also take money away from state businesses, reducing the revenue pool available for "normal" taxes.