How many of you anti-socialists bought a lottery ticket?

a reply to: NthOther

So people have no issue with giving their money away to another person for basically nothing but they take issue with redistribution of wealth through socialism?

Seems like the only thing holding them back from socialism is that they can't get all the money to themselves, a.k.a. greed.

a reply to: 3NL1GHT3N3D1

Socialism doesn't offer people a choice. You do it, or you are either incarcerated or executed.

They don't do that to you for not playing the lottery.

Do you understand? It's the whole not-having-a-choice part we take issue with.

a reply to: DBCowboy

People are against socialism because they see it as a way for people to get things for free and not having towork for it (at least I've seen that argument many times). Well what exactly is the lottery? People getting things for free and not working for it. The lottery is socialist in nature using that argument.

a reply to: 3NL1GHT3N3D1

Your premise is a bit skewed though, since motive for buying a lottery ticket will vary.

Extreme socialists might buy a ticket because they want to "contribute" to the general welfare (lol that's a load of crud ha-ha).
Every person buying a lottery ticket is 100% doing it because of the lure possibly winning big piles of CASH!!!

Politics are kicked to the curb when there is an opportunity to win big bucks!

But I like your creative thinking

a reply to: NthOther

Yet we all take part in paying taxes without having a choice in the matter. So how is socialism that much different than what we already have? Do people complain when someone is thrown in jail for evading taxes or do most believe them being thrown in jail is justified?

The lotto isn't anywhere near socialism. It is gambling with the worst of odds. I would call it a for profit business.

originally posted by: 3NL1GHT3N3D1
a reply to: DBCowboy

People are against socialism because they see it as a way for people to get things for free and not having towork for it (at least I've seen that argument many times). Well what exactly is the lottery? People getting things for free and not working for it. The lottery is socialist in nature using that argument.

In socialism, everyone loses equally.

Only the elite prosper.

a reply to: rickymouse

Using the argument that I've seen around here quite often, that socialism gives people free stuff without having to earn it, the lottery is socialist in nature.

a reply to: 3NL1GHT3N3D1

People are against socialism because they see it as a way for people to get things for free and not having to work for it (at least I've seen that argument many times).

That's the way it's supposed to be.

The money system is a way for a small group of greedy people to hold the majority of nature's resources for themselves, while everyone else works for pieces of paper called "money", which is then used to get back a little bit of the stolen resources (shelter, water, food) in a struggle to survive.

a reply to: 3NL1GHT3N3D1
I think you'd get more reception if you argued insurance is a form of socialism/welfare. The whole idea is you put $$$ into a common pool on the unlikely chance something will happen to you. Everyone who's in the system puts money into the pool. X amount of them experience something unfortunate and money is removed from the pool to address it. The guiding principle is enough needs to be put into the pool to pay for all of the employees and services and unfortunate sufferers. The amount per person placed into the pool is usually much smaller than the amount they suffer when something unfortunate occurs. it's essentially a safety net, wherein the sufferers rely on those who do not suffer. (In healthcare terms, the unhealthy rely on the healthy. If too many are unhealthy, the payments are so high a healthy person is better not to participate.)

But even that's spin too. Sociailism is more than just making a productive (and selfish) decision by putting money into a common pool. Socialism is something where you bear the weight of the community, rain or shine. You're your brothers keeper, whether your brother is healthy or not. It's about state over individual. Community over profit.

a reply to: DBCowboy

I think you're confusing socialism with capitalism.

a reply to: jonnywhite

That's a pretty good comparison actually, though I'm using this argument with the anti-socialist argument in mind (people getting free stuff). If socialism is people getting stuff for free, the lottery is the most extreme form of socialism around.

If the lottery was Socialist people who work would have to buy tickets for the bums that don't.

originally posted by: 3NL1GHT3N3D1
a reply to: DBCowboy

I think you're confusing socialism with capitalism.

Capitalism requires one to work and to earn their money.

Socialism relies on government to provide a basic living by taking money from those who work.

you do realize that even our founding fathers in the 1700s had lotteries...I guess that makes the founding of America socialist!!

a reply to: abe froman

Because everyone who needs help is a bum and has no aspirations of making a living, right?

a reply to: DBCowboy

Socialism requires people to work as well. Or are you under the impression that every socialist nation to ever exist didn't have a work force?

May as well stop paying your taxes! They're socialist and evil.

originally posted by: 3NL1GHT3N3D1
a reply to: rickymouse

Using the argument that I've seen around here quite often, that socialism gives people free stuff without having to earn it, the lottery is socialist in nature.

But you never seem to get back as much as you spend. How is that giving people money. It is a tax.

If you are very lucky and make a pact with the devil, you might hit it big, then the devil sends others to swindle you out of your winnings.

a reply to: rickymouse

Someone wins the lottery don't they? You gave them your hard earned money for nothing! Apparently that's socialism to a lot of people around here.

originally posted by: 3NL1GHT3N3D1
a reply to: DBCowboy

Socialism requires people to work as well. Or are you under the impression that every socialist nation to ever exist didn't have a work force?

May as well stop paying your taxes! They're socialist and evil.

No, socialism needs people to work so those in power can take what they have.