Does anyone else find the national lottery a bit disgusting?

Question

I dont really give money to charity, i already donate enough involuntarily with taxes. But i just think when we are quite well off in our lives compared to some countries and people, it's a bit disgusting to want to win millions on the lottery, whilst they all stay poor.

I know the lottery donates to charity, but why dont we all give a pound a week instead to help people not for our own greed.

Answer 1

The lottery is brilliant. Without the terminally stupid pumping lots of money into it my taxes would be much higher.

Answer 2

Sure, and why don't we just melt down all those guns and bombs  and learn to coexist in world without violence, poverty and hunger?

Seriously, human nature is what it is.  People want to be rich.  People want material possessions.  People enjoy the gamble of playing the lottery.  Who are you to criticize these people and tell them they can't enjoy the lottery?

The first National Lottery draw was on November 14th, 1994.  Since that date the company that operates the lottery in the UK has raised £20Bn ($40.1Bn) for charity.

Your alternative suggestion is that everyone just donate a pound a week.  But ironically, you freely admit that you don't really give money to charity yourself.

So excuse me for calling you a hypocrite here, but you are suggesting that we scrap the lottery because you think people who play it are greedy.  You propose asking people to each give £52 a year to charity, even though you personally don't bother.

Sorry, but you are not really making any sense.  If you don't like the lottery, don't play.  If you want to donate to charity do so, but lead by example rather than just running your mouth.

Answer 3

If you ask the public to all give a pound a week for no gain, you won't get many takers. If you ask them to give a pound with the promise that some of them will win 5 or 6 figure sums you will get lots of takers.

I am sorry you begrudge paying taxes, and regard them as a "donation". I am happy to pay tax and see it used to fund necessary services. I am also happy to buy a lottery ticket and see the money go to funding sports and arts projects which people do not wish to fund from taxation, but which still need money, and deserve it.

Answer 4

You don't give to charity because you pay taxes, yet you find the lottery disgusting?? Taxes go to fund our health service, schools, benefits, infrastructure etc etc...this is not charity!  The lottery is optional...nobody is twisting your arm, and also, many of the big winners donate a porportion to charities.  If you had your way, and there was no lottery, and you still weren't giving any money (oh sorry, a pound a week) how much better off do you think we would be?

Stop being so self-righteous - if you want to do your bit, then pay your pound a week into whatever you choose - but stop telling people that their way of donating (which currently stand 100% higher than yours) is wrong.

Answer 5

All these charity things are another way in which the governing parties are putting undue responsibility onto us, bailing them out, they cause poverty around the world then use charity as a vehicle to mend what they let break eventhen, the money is miss-used in most cases and desolves on the way.... Charity is a scandel in my opinion as we that everyone in 2008 should have plenty, whats the point of going to space costing billions when we cannot even look after this world.

Answer 6

funnier things have happened

we are greedy,but not just us every1 is always gonna want more than they have

Answer 7

Because - if you look closely at most charities - you donate a pound and only 5p goes to the people it is designed to help - the rest is swallowed up by wages and expenses.

Now - if you won £8,000,000 on the lottery - would you complain - probably not.

Get the point

Answer 8

It's a tax on the poor, to subsidise activities of the middle-class and rich.

It's beyond disgusting.

Answer 9

come on now!!!!!!!!

you wouldnt be saying that if you won the lotto now would you???...didnt think so..=)

but i see where your coming from ...