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Comment by ethbro | Hacker News Reader

I am.

Unless it's not-for-profit or single use (e.g. lottery revenue going to schools), then it's a regressive tax on people who don't understand probability.

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Are there any lotteries in the US that don't directly fund public sectors like education or elderly care? I thought that was how lotteries became legal across the states.

Even if it’s funding education, it’s doing so through what is essentially a tax on the poor. Why not tax those that can afford it instead?

Well, that's how they sell it. When they started the lottery in my state, they sold it as a wonderful benefit to society, because all the proceeds would be used to fund education.

What they didn't tell us is it wasn't additional funds to existing budgets, but they would pilfer the existing budget and replace it with lottery proceeds.

Lying, smarmy politicians. You'd figure we'd learn by now.

Money is fungible single-use funding doesn't exist in reality.

> a regressive tax on people who don't understand probability

This is precisely why I support lotteries etc.

What you support is immoral. IF you want to live in a society where people prey on each other in every way possible, do not be surprised to eat a bullet. This shit is destabilizing because you advocate taking food off the tables of the poor.

Impressive karma btw.

I mean, whoever is dumb enough to gamble, deserves to lose everything. And if they want to then shoot people, I'm sure the police will be more than obligated to do their jobs.

Do the minor, elderly, disabled or other types of dependenents deserve to lose everything too because the person charged with their care loses everything?

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