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    WhompaloompaHamilton Nolan
    12/13/13 12:45pm

    Counterpoint: one dollar doesn't buy shit. I can't get a cup of coffee for one dollar. If I can buy a couple hours of pleasant daydreams about gaudy, copious wealth — likely without the hassle of actually attaining such wealth — I'd say a Mega Millions ticket is actually a bargain. In fact, I may have to head downstairs to the bodega and buy this week's daydream this instant.

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      Cherith CutestoryWhompaloompa
      12/13/13 12:47pm

      Well, $365 dollars in the bank and at the end of the year you can buy yourself a game system or something. And dream in game form.

      But I waste my money on all sorts of ridiculous things so I am not position to say anything about it. Good luck! Hope you win.

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      WhompaloompaCherith Cutestory
      12/13/13 12:52pm

      Thanks, and not that it matters, but I'm definitely not buying a lottery ticket every day. I like to wait for these comically large jackpots. I don't want to fantasize about being fake rich, I want to fantasize about being fake wealthy.

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    The Ghost of ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ AKA BabyStepsHamilton Nolan
    12/13/13 12:44pm

    I'm in with my two bucks! :)

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      insomniac 1729The Ghost of ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ AKA BabySteps
      12/13/13 12:47pm

      Then your odds are double!

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      The Ghost of ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ AKA BabyStepsinsomniac 1729
      12/13/13 12:48pm

      That's what I told myself too! Great minds. . .

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    Mrs. BeetonHamilton Nolan
    12/13/13 12:46pm

    If I win, I'll give you the first interview.

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      The Ghost of ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ AKA BabyStepsMrs. Beeton
      12/13/13 12:49pm

      Hands off MY money!

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      Mrs. BeetonThe Ghost of ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ AKA BabySteps
      12/13/13 12:59pm

      My ultimate fantasy is winning both Mega Millions AND Powerball and giving one of the jackpots away to charity. That way I look good, alleviate my guilt slightly, but still get to live a greedy life of cocaine on yachts.

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    Hamilton NolanHamilton Nolan
    12/13/13 1:29pm

    "Playing the lottery is stupid, but only if you spend more than [precise amount I spend on lottery tickets]."

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      commander curHamilton Nolan
      12/13/13 12:47pm

      That's why lottery is widely known in policy circles as a "tax on stupidity." And also why, in states like Washington, the proceeds are sent to education.

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        Clutchman83commander cur
        12/13/13 1:01pm

        The last part is why I buy a ticket every now and then. I get to be charitable and have delusions of grandeur!

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        JoshDigicommander cur
        12/13/13 1:09pm

        The fact that I have gone my entire life to this point without ever having purchased a lottery ticket or scratch card is one of my greatest accomplishments(I'm not very accomplished). I wish I could put it on my resume as evidence of having common sense and self control.

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      ZuzaxHamilton Nolan
      12/13/13 12:57pm

      I see no problem with a tax on people who are bad at math.

      Now we need to find a way to tax people who misuse there, their, and they're.

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        AstrellaZuzax
        12/13/13 1:06pm

        Don't forget to and too. Also lose and loose.

        Bugs me.

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        CPR14Zuzax
        12/13/13 1:19pm

        The editors and English teachers will rule the land!

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      sizor_sisterHamilton Nolan
      12/13/13 12:46pm

      Gambling is a fixture of American life. Poor people play the lottery and rich people play the stock market. In the end its all a big gamble*

      * Except for our financial overlords who fix the stock market in their favor.

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        tito_swineflusizor_sister
        12/13/13 1:09pm

        Poor people play the lottery. The middle class plays the stock market (either directly or through their pension plan). The rich don't play anything. They own it and collect the revenue from everyone else.

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        Ladyologysizor_sister
        12/13/13 6:36pm

        Over decades, a properly diversified portfolio is going to gain in value and contribute to the retirement nest egg of the middle and upper classes. Meanwhile, the people for whom a dollar has the greatest possible value blow it away and get nothing in return, because our public education system cannot teach basic math.

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      toothpetardHamilton Nolan
      12/13/13 12:43pm

      No, my dad is the math-illiterate prey.

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        toothpetardtoothpetard
        12/13/13 12:45pm

        'Do you get your moneys' worth in enjoyment of the fantasy?'
        'Yes.'
        'Then it's just like a movie ticket. Carry on.'

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        seeyatoothpetard
        12/13/13 12:48pm

        Cheaper!

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      apeshapedmanHamilton Nolan
      12/13/13 12:46pm

      Buying one lottery ticket for these mega jackpot is whimsical fun. Most people can entertain themselves with dreams about what they would do with their new wealth. That makes it cheap entertainment.

      Buying more than one is when you get stupid.

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        meatwadfapeshapedman
        12/13/13 12:50pm

        My dad and I buy one every six months, or so. Like you said, for a little fun and it's just one ticket. A good friend of mine used to work at a gas station, however, and would have people coming in buying a hundred bucks worth of tickets. And that's not even going into the scratch off people. Just... what the hell? It really does end up being a tax on the stupid, it seems.

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        subdivoapeshapedman
        12/13/13 12:54pm

        Yup, I think the problem is with people who have addictive personalities, I've noticed that people who are really into gambling often tend to have other addictive or compulsive personalities. I buy a lottery ticket for fun every few months at most, like when the power ball gets really high or a dumb 1 dollar ticket at the gas station, but I'd never buy one of those 20 dollar tickets or buy weekly. I always go into any certain gambling/betting situation with the mindset of, if I lost this amount of money, I'd be okay with it and make that my limit.

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      Pink SkullHamilton Nolan
      12/13/13 1:15pm

      The only time I play is if I'm in one of those office pools. I know it's stupid, and it's never going to happen, but if they win and I missed out because I had to hold onto my dollar I will want to murder myself.

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        CPR14Pink Skull
        12/13/13 1:21pm

        That's what my dad always says. He's so against gambling in general, but he always caves for the office pool because he doesn't want to be the one dude in the office on a Monday when his friends are all out buying yachts and racehorses.

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