3rd March 2010, 7:03 PM
Those who would waste their money on lotto tickets could just as easily waste their money on, say, booze. The difference is that booze is more than just a mental addiction--it's an addictive substance--and it leads to more problems besides simply depleting one's wallet (though that is still very much a problem with alcoholism) and unlike a lotto ticket, a bottle of booze doesn't carry that small chance of winning back some of the money you just wasted. It's all about individual responsibility. With or without the lottery, people are very much capable of spending their money irresponsibly. I, for one, would rather taxes be lowered in some other area for the benefit of humanity in general than worry about some poor sap's gambling addiction. Also, of course rich people don't play the lottery; they don't need to.