Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/5/84; site mnetor.UUCP Path: utzoo!utcs!mnetor!fred From: fred@mnetor.UUCP (Fred Williams) Newsgroups: can.politics Subject: Re: Lotteries Message-ID: <1278@mnetor.UUCP> Date: Fri, 12-Jul-85 09:38:12 EDT Article-I.D.: mnetor.1278 Posted: Fri Jul 12 09:38:12 1985 Date-Received: Fri, 12-Jul-85 10:17:07 EDT References: <1121@ubc-cs.UUCP> <1110@mnetor.UUCP> <695@lsuc.UUCP> <1218@mnetor.UUCP> <702@lsuc.UUCP> <1243@utcsri.UUCP> <1268@mnetor.UUCP> Reply-To: fred@mnetor.UUCP (Fred Williams) Distribution: can Organization: Computer X (CANADA) Ltd., Toronto, Ontario, Canada Lines: 36 Summary: In article <1268@mnetor.UUCP> clewis@mnetor.UUCP (Chris Lewis) writes: >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. > OK Chris, so you found a counter example of someone who was not destitute, still rational, (nnyyeeeaaaaahhhh, *just kidding*), and buys lottery tickets. However, just because you occasionally do it, doesn't make it moral. I was talking with Sophie yesterday, and admitted that even I have bought the occassional wintario ticket. I consider them donations, (3 in my life), to some of the causes they support. But I did win $25 and that leaves me about $10 ahead. I doubt I'll buy any more. Now if I want to donate to a local hockey team I'll look them up and give them the money directly, and feel better about doing it. >the general Government taxation pot - but none of them (to my knowledge) >do. Consider lottery revenue voluntary contributions to programs and >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. > Alcohol, horse betting, betting for cash, playing cards for cash, etc. *are* immoral. This doesn't mean I'm getting rid of the wine in my cellar. I do have my vices, believe it or not, but you'll never see me drunk. Cheers, Fred Williams. PS: Chris, I know what you're comment will be so I'll leave it in from the previous posting. >Sheesh!