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Path: utzoo!utcsri!utcs!mnetor!clewis
From: clewis@mnetor.UUCP
Newsgroups: can.politics
Subject: Re: Lotteries
Message-ID: <1268@mnetor.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 11-Jul-85 13:33:49 EDT
Article-I.D.: mnetor.1268
Posted: Thu Jul 11 13:33:49 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 11-Jul-85 14:36:53 EDT
References: <1121@ubc-cs.UUCP> <1110@mnetor.UUCP> <695@lsuc.UUCP> <1218@mnetor.UUCP> <702@lsuc.UUCP> <1243@utcsri.UUCP>
Reply-To: clewis@mnetor.UUCP (Chris Lewis)
Distribution: can
Organization: Computer X (CANADA) Ltd., Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Lines: 32
Summary: 

In article <1243@utcsri.UUCP> clarke@utcsri.UUCP (Jim Clarke) writes:
> A rational person who knows something about probability and has
>alternative ways to improve his or her situation does not buy lottery tickets.

That's silly.  I KNOW that the probability of winning is virtually nil.
I also am doing quite well financially thank you.  And, I'm rational (so 
far as I can tell! :-)).  But, the occasional "waste" of a couple of bucks 
doesn't hurt me in exchange for some minor entertainment/excitement and 
the off chance (certainly remote) of getting rich.

Certainly, I would be somewhat annoyed if lottery revenue went into
the general Government taxation pot - but none of them (to my knowledge)
do.  Consider lottery revenue voluntary contributions to programs and 
projects that would be screamed about if they came out of general revenues.
("What!  My tax revenue is being used to pay for little league hockey
uniforms in Moose Factory?! (or birth control clinics in Vancouver,
or right to life groups in Sask - choose your favorite hated group) - I'll 
never vote for you again!")

No, lotteries aren't immoral - but the people who participate in them
to the point of financial strain are sick (exactly the same as compulsive 
gamblers (horse bettors etc.) similarly alcoholics) and should be treated.  
If you DO consider lotteries immoral for the reasons you specify, then, 
following the same argument, alcohol should be considered immoral.  Same
for horse betting.  As would card games and other such "vices".  Are you 
a member of the WCTU or something?  I know Fred isn't.  

Sheesh!
-- 
Chris Lewis,
UUCP: {allegra, linus, ihnp4}!utzoo!mnetor!clewis
BELL: (416)-475-8980 ext. 321