Reply #145: Thanks for reminding me to buy a Mega Millions ticket

[WildEyedLiberal]

The jackpot is $325 million. Will I win? Doubtful. But for 5 bucks - I'll take a chance at $325 million, rather than another beer at the bar that I'll sleep off in a few hours anyway.

What is with the nanny-state leftism infecting DU recently? Gambling is a human instinct. The concepts of wagering money, striking it rich, being lucky, hitting the jackpot - none of these originated with state lottos. I don't think most people mortgage their futures on the chances of winning the lottery, and it's honestly incredibly condescending of people here to suggest that people who buy lotto tickets are too poor and stupid to realize that.

Are some people addicted to gambling and spend money that they don't have on lotto tickets? Of course. People are also addicted to alcohol and spend money they can't afford to spend to make sure they have some. Should we ban alcohol (again)? Should we ban cigarettes? Should we ban forms of entertainment and diversion that the nanny-state leftists deem to be "destructive"? Should we assume that people are too fucking helpless and stupid to make their own choices?