Just heard on the news that after taxes they split 300 million. That comes to only 150 million each. What a bummer. [:(]
Jim [cptn]
I never play the lottery. Ir’s a scam. Just a way to rob desperate people and make them feel like they have hope of getting out of their unhappiness with money—the surest way to misery.
Well, I for one am glad not all see it that way Doog. Last May, a guy in Calgary won $40 million and gave every penny of it (all $40 mil, as lottery winnings are not taxed here) to cancer research. That awful disease had taken his wife’s life two years earlier.
A very generous person , thinking of others before himself , and giving to A very good cause.
Lost my mother in-law to cancer two years ago hard way to go.
Dave
First thing I’d do is get a new phone number, then pack up the family and move! I really dont want much, a 6 bedroom house or at least one that more than one bathroom and 20 acres (at least). A new truck for me, suv for the wife, a couple of 4wheelers to play on the land and a few new to me rifles. And I’d love to go help out with some of the current 1:1 warbird restorations. Plus a vacation to europe, so many historic sites I wanna see, normandy, bastogne etc. Above all, invest or something to have that money make more money. And some charity work, St Jude, things like that.
Well, we’re talking about different things. I"m talking about the false hopes that it engenders and the seduction of gambling that it mimics; you’re talking about a person’s magnanimous generosity. In the end, more people play it because they “hope to strike it rich” than they do to enable them to be huge charity donors. And when it comes right down to it, it’s gambling, pure and simple. And mostly, gambling historically takes money from people who can LEAST afford to lose it. I should know—I grew up in Northeast Pa—mafia and gambling capital of the West.
Actually Doog, my point was simply to say that if this one guy had been so dead set against the lottery system so as not to even bother playing it, then there’s $40 mil that goes into something quite likely frivolous instead of where it can do a world of good. I’m well aware of the allure and the pitfalls of instant megabucks.
I see your point, Mike, but you have to admit that what happened here is an unlikely, extraordinary quirk of fate, not likely to be repeated any time soon. For this ONE guy who was a winner, you have literally millions of mostly-hopeful, some-desperate people who waste a few dollars every day against tremendous odds for the promise of something for which you literally have a better chance of being hit by lightning. I just feel that they’re profiting off of people’s false hopes. It doesn’t feel honest to me. And most people are going to keep that money mostly to themselves. Oh of course everyone will give a little here or there to some charity or other just to assuage their own conscience, but realistically this guy’s magnanimous gesture is as rare as a comet strike on the Earth.
Pretty funny here—
www.thedailybeast.com/…/15-things-more-likely-to-happen-than-winning-mega-millions.html
Doog that 's good. I like the one about right handed tools ( you guessed it I’m a lefty and proud of it ).
It doesn’t matter there’s always some thing that’s not good for you gambling, drinking, eating, working.
It all comes down to responsibility and self control. If you don’t have it to begin with well??.
Me I may have posted a Sheman and a Stuart 1;1 scale reality no, I just want to take care of my 50 X 150 ft that is paid for. Fix it up so I’m warmer in the winter and a few other little things.
The only real thing that keeps me playing the lottery ( I only spend 6 maybe 15 bucks a week ) is maybe I can retire a little early. I’m 61 been with the same company 40 year’s , I’m tired.
Dave
Dave,
Your situation is probably similar to a lot of people who play the lottery. I understand completely.
But what I would rather see is states pass laws that pensions have to be funded and safe from economic predators rather than have the hard workers of this country like you relying on distant hopes to live out their years in comfort.
I dunno, but the hopes you expressed are kinda the reason that I hate the false hope of the lottery. At least they should guarantee a 1-in-100 odds. And not for millions. Split the prizes into 100G a piece, don’t tax it, and let people get a nice payout that they can then put to good use. More winners would be more fair, and ALL the money collected should be used for payout. Stop funding schools and whatnot with it. That should be covered by regular taxes incumbent upon all the members of a community. As it stands, when they’re paying out from the lottery for public works and institutions, they’re really passing on that financial burden to people who are like you–hoping to get some unlikely “reward” for their labors, or people who may seriously have a gambling addiction. That just seems civilly-unethical to me.
Hi :
You know , I have re-read this after commenting and all . I have come to this conclusion . Many are right about what the odds are and what type of folks play the lottery .I do occassionally .Why ? Well let me tell you a story if you don’t mind .I know this guy , a very ordinary fellow by anyone’s standards .Who had a windfall .
What did he do with it ? Well to be frank , he didn’t know about it until over four years after it was granted . His wife was his LEGAL Power of Attorney ! Why? He was in the service and she was afraid he would spend it foolishly . After he got out and with her guidance started a business .In the right field at the right time It seems . he worked 16 hours a day and didn’t know about that big chunk of cash just sitting there till he really needed it . Then his wife told him and gave him full access to the funds .What did he do ? He created jobs in the state where they lived where un-employment was high .He and his people were honest and fair .The outcome ? they missed going public by one month with a multi-million dollar company involved in transport , construction and salvage .
Fate had other things in store .It seem while doing these things he built a school for a community that needed one , couldn’t get the state to fund it , So he stepped in and built it .No one knew who did it .
Then there was another town that need a police department infrastructure and a firefighting infrastructure .Gee , they got those things and never knew where the money came from because the city politicians didn’t even know .
Now slide forward a year or so .( A town desperatel;y needed a medical facility ) the drive to the city ensured folks in ambulances with life threatening situations wouldn’t make it because of the distance involved .Well , just at the town limits a developer bought nine acres of land .Now No one knew what was going to go up till it was done .A 60 bed hospital with a Trauma center .That town never knew who built it ( money wise ) because all the folks building it were from out of town and sworn to secrecy . You couldn’t know what went through folks minds when the facility opened . He had made sure he had a damn good attorney who handled stuff according to his wishes .
This man went through mind and soul wrenching events in one year that left him physically damaged permanently , loss of his only child and later the loss of his partner and love .To get back on an even keel and try to save at least his loves life he spent whatever it took .One day he was almost homeless .Why ? , well that’s life .he’s a friend of mine now and every now and then , we’ll be driving around and talking about life in general and he would pipe up , " You know what , ? It’s nice to do things for folks who truly need and they can’t figure out where it came from .That’s a good feeling to know you did that and they don’t know you did that "
This was genorosity on a grand scale . Why ? well , he was brought up to live the Biblical statement " do this unto thy Brethren , this also then you do unto me ." He has no regrets except now he gets help for his illnesses and stuff , and he doesn’t know how to deal with being on the recieving end .I think if he could win millions he would go back to sharing it with folks less fortunate than he . I would like to think so anyway .The lottery win , If possible would allow him to relish helping others again . Yes it’s true , most who play would be selfish or foolish with a win .Now do you know why a lot of seniors play ? Have you ever tried to live in todays society living and paying bills on less than a thousand a month ? It ain’t easy !
I play once in a while .Why ? well I would like really to have a customized ,refitted Cape Class Coast Guard ( Retired ) Cutter with a hobby room and luxury living areas .Why ? well , I like living on the water . I really think if I won that’s what I’d do and then help my neighbors .My friend’s ideas are addicting . I don’t think it can really be categorized though . Most folks who do win rarely share and in some instances it destroys families and lives .We , as a society really don’t need it . Yes ! it is legalized gambling . There I’ve had my say , Thanks for reading it .
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