• Dallas NAACP seeks end to Texas lottery, 'too addicting for those in poverty/minorities which it spe
    36 replies, posted
[QUOTE](CNN) -- The NAACP chapter in Dallas is calling for an end to the Texas state lottery, saying the game drains the finances of low-income ticket-buyers who can least afford it, especially minorities. [B]"It's an addiction," chapter President Juanita Wallace said. "Many, many people have actually spent all their money in hope of getting out of a situation, when in fact, they're getting themselves into a worse situation."[/B] She said one man she knew died last week without health insurance. "He had an insurance policy," she said, "and he withdrew all of the funds from the policy, actually, to play the lottery." [B]Wallace also believes that minorities are disproportionately drawn to playing the lottery. "The way things are set up in the store is targeted for black people and poor people," she said.[/B] A spokeswoman with the Texas Lottery Commission rejected that assertion, saying the Texas lottery does not target low-income areas specifically and does not market any differently from one demographic to another. "Our marketing and advertising efforts are designed to reach a broad audience of adult Texans," spokeswoman Kelly Cripe said. Wallace says her NAACP chapter is already lobbying lawmakers, as are organizations like the Baptist General Convention of Texas that were already opposed to the lottery. But at a convenience store in Dallas this week, some ticket-buyers did not appreciate the idea of losing the option of playing. [B]"It's up to me," David Anderson told CNN affiliate station KTVT as he stood in line. "If I make a certain amount, it's up to me: Should I spend this $5 (on a ticket)? Or should I go buy a loaf of bread and hamburger to feed the kids?"[/B] Professor Irwin Morris of the University of Maryland says low-income people are more likely to play the lottery, not necessarily because they are targeted but because they have more to gain. "It's an opportunity to change your living circumstances," he said. "So for someone who's already wealthy, it would take a dramatic lottery win -- a Lotto, let's say -- to significantly change their living circumstances. If someone is of much more meager means, a much smaller win could literally change the character of their living circumstances." As a result, he said, "I think there is considerable evidence that the poor pay a greater portion of their income on lotteries than the wealthy." Statistics show that for the Pick 3 lottery in Texas, a third of people who make less than $20,000 play, but only about a quarter or fewer of people making more than $20,000 do. And for instant scratch-off tickets, the most popular game, unemployed people were more likely to play than employed people or retirees. Wallace says that means the people who can least afford it are the most likely to splurge. Lottery players point out that the games are fun to play, and they offer the hope of winning life-altering riches. The ticket sales also raise substantial revenues for state coffers. "Since the first ticket was sold in 1992, the Texas Lottery has generated $20 billion in revenue for the state," Cripe said, "and contributed more than $14 billion to the Foundation School Fund. These are not insignificant numbers." Morris said he has not seen evidence that states with lotteries spend more on schools than states without. But now that states have come to rely on those revenues, he said, it would be difficult for a state to pull the plug on its lottery. "If that were eliminated," he said, "how difficult would it be politically to come up with the same amount of revenue through other taxes or fees?"[/QUOTE] Source: [url]http://www.cnn.com/2012/06/29/us/texas-naacp-lottery/index.html?hpt=us_c2[/url] This is stupid. No one forces you to buy a ticket. If you have a gambling problem, that's not because you're poor or black, that's because you let yourself have a gambling problem.
That's like blaming Smirnoff for my alcoholism. Actually, that sounds like a great idea, brb.
[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;36575887] This is stupid. No one forces you to buy a ticket. If you have a gambling problem, that's not because you're poor or black, that's because you let yourself have a gambling problem.[/QUOTE] You should look at the nicotine vaccine thread, where we put out some pretty damn good arguments against the use of tobacco
[QUOTE=scout1;36575953]You should look at the nicotine vaccine thread, where we put out some pretty damn good arguments against the use of tobacco[/QUOTE] Gambling doesn't induce a chemical into your body.
[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;36575959]Gambling doesn't induce a chemical into your body.[/QUOTE] This is true, however addictions share common properties like the release of- That is where I stopped writing the post before I decided I didn't want to argue this. Sorry; you can chalk this up as a concede. Going to bed.
although i agree that the lottery is gambling and gambling specifically fucks over poor people with bullshit tricking them into thinking maybe they'll strike big, i love gambling so, and yeah i mean, it's your choice so whatever how about rather than seeking to end texas lottery they try to get the lottery commission to support gambling addiction treatment programs or better yet make some themselves
[QUOTE=scout1;36575980]This is true, however addictions share common properties like the release of- That is where I stopped writing the post before I decided I didn't want to argue this. Sorry; you can chalk this up as a concede. Going to bed.[/QUOTE] Can you link to that thread you messaged beforehand? I couldn't find it. [editline]1st July 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=Lachz0r;36575996]although i agree that the lottery is gambling and gambling specifically fucks over poor people with bullshit tricking them into thinking maybe they'll strike big, i love gambling so, and yeah i mean, it's your choice so whatever how about rather than seeking to end texas lottery they try to get the lottery commission to support gambling addiction treatment programs or better yet make some themselves[/QUOTE] But...that would be intelligent and useful!
[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;36575998]Can you link to that thread you messaged beforehand? I couldn't find it.[/QUOTE] [url]http://www.facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=1194400[/url]
People who are on the verge are more likely to take risks if that gives them a minuscule chance of getting out of their situation. And that includes gambling to get out of extreme poverty. Also poor people in the US doesn't always see themselves as poor, more as less fortunate millionaires.
I can think of better shit to buy than lottery tickets. Like a bus pass so I can get to my second job.
[QUOTE=Lachz0r;36575996]although i agree that the lottery is gambling and gambling specifically fucks over poor people with bullshit tricking them into thinking maybe they'll strike big, i love gambling so, and yeah i mean, it's your choice so whatever how about rather than seeking to end texas lottery they try to get the lottery commission to support gambling addiction treatment programs or better yet make some themselves[/QUOTE] Dude the texas lottery only costs 1 dollar to buy in or 2 dollars if you want to do the bigger ticket. I mean what the fuck, half the time you win shit back. If someone is to much of a dumb ass to realize the odds and put all their savings in to it that is there own fault. Go a head and ban the lotto, they'll just go to the casinos and lose it all there. NAACP is fucking stupid.
If someone is poor enough that playing the lottery for a few dollars a week is hurting them, then they are in a big enough world of hurt that ending the lottery won't help. If someone is stupid enough to spend large amounts of money on the lottery that they should be spending on important things like rent or medicine, then ending the lottery won't help them(ie won't make them not dumb). So I'm not really seeing the reason to end the lotteries. The NAACP could instead focus their energy convincing people not to play, educating them about the odds against winning and so on. That would be hard work that takes a long time to be successful doing, so they want to skip that and just ban lotteries for everyone.
[img]http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fiJo_kim-94/TR90VNij42I/AAAAAAAAABc/u3WFIONFgIk/s1600/7+peanuts_lucy.png[/img] "Doesn't the NAACP stand for... Nigga's Arguing And Constantly Protesting?" [highlight](User was banned for this post ("Racism." - Seiteki))[/highlight]
[QUOTE=SirJamster;36577094][img]http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fiJo_kim-94/TR90VNij42I/AAAAAAAAABc/u3WFIONFgIk/s1600/7+peanuts_lucy.png[/img] "Doesn't the NAACP stand for... Nigga's Arguing And Constantly Protesting?"[/QUOTE] racism
I don't like the lottery, I never have, but I don't think you should ban it.
[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;36575959]Gambling doesn't induce a chemical into your body.[/QUOTE] Yes it does it floods your system with dopamine.
[QUOTE=SigmaLambda;36583826]Yes it does it floods your system with dopamine.[/QUOTE] So does playing video games.
[QUOTE=Sobotnik;36583887]So does playing video games.[/QUOTE] And people get addicted to that too. So what's your point exactly? Or are you just blurting out a random sentence?
[QUOTE=Sobotnik;36583887]So does playing video games.[/QUOTE] At least it doesn't make me waste hundreds of- [IMG]http://static.gamersguidetolife.com/img/Tribes%20Ascend/TribesAscend-screen02.jpg[/IMG] Nevermind.
valid point, but you don't blame smoke for causing pollution, you blame the factory that produces the smoke.
[QUOTE=Van-man;36583921]And people get addicted to that too. So what's your point exactly? Or are you just blurting out a random sentence?[/QUOTE] Point is that its not some chemical addiction like say nicotine.
[QUOTE=Sobotnik;36583971]Point is that its not some chemical addiction like say nicotine.[/QUOTE] Why should the source matter? Both end up being chalked down to a decision regardless.
This is retarded. The lotto is cheap as fuck and the profits go to help education. If you're addicted to gambling seek help. Don't ruin it for the rest of us.
I thought most people knew that lotteries were just an extra "tax" on the poor
Wasn't gambling once described as a tax on the poor?
[QUOTE=JamesRaynor;36585695]Wasn't gambling once described as a tax on the poor?[/QUOTE] I heard it described as a "Tax upon the foolish", not a "tax upon the poor". While yes, the poor do gamble, so do the rich.
Tax on the foolish seems more appropriate. You often see rich people blowing away their wealth gambling.
I've always heard that it was a tax upon the willing.
[QUOTE=S31-Syntax;36585990]I heard it described as a "Tax upon the foolish", not a "tax upon the poor". While yes, the poor do gamble, so do the rich.[/QUOTE] The phrase I've always heard was the "stupid person's tax."
[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;36575887]Source: [url]http://www.cnn.com/2012/06/29/us/texas-naacp-lottery/index.html?hpt=us_c2[/url] This is stupid. No one forces you to buy a ticket. If you have a gambling problem, that's not because you're poor or black, that's because you let yourself have a gambling problem.[/QUOTE] The problem is much more nuanced than that. There are serious psychological effects from gambling that can make it seriously addictive. The fact that the state not only profits off this, but actively advertises it seems morally bankrupt to me.
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