Sage

Oh, but these poor people! They can't help but play the lotto and gamble... it's just put right there in front of them tempting them with the promise of free, easy money...

/SARCASM

I've heard the argument from people that poor people can't help but gamble because sometimes it represents their only chance to make money. Reminds me of Jeff Foxworthy's joke- "Normal people invest their money, Rednecks... well, rednecks PLAY THE LOTTO!"

I think the whole welfare system is totally flawed. I took a Sociology class in college (an intro class) and one of the big things we looked at was the poor section of NYC. It was a real eye opener to me, to see how there were lots of people who just took the free and easy way out, but there were many others who genuinely wanted to get a job and get out of the "ghetto" but because of the way the system was set up couldn't afford to. Apparently once you reach a certain level of income your goverment assistance was cut off, but the level of income for the cut-off was far, far too low to be a living wage.

I have *no* sympathy for stupidity. I suppose I'm a bit like Ebaneezer Scrooge, wanting to "Decrease the surplus population" in that regard. Does that make me harsh? Yes, but that is how I feel. HOWEVER, if a person wants to succeed, wants to be a productive member of society but has problems with that because of finacial situation or demographics, more power to them- they can have all the tax money it takes them to get where they want to go.

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