How many of you anti-socialists bought a lottery ticket?

I've read your updates and see the point you are trying to make. But I can't agree with you at any level. I work for myself, my wife and my children. I work hard for a nice, secure home, food we actually like on the table, cars that don't break down all the time in the driveway, etc. I may decide to work harder for something in particular...for my family. During hard times, I might work somewhere trivial...for my family. Because it is MY family to which I am responsible. It is my family that I love, protect, watch over, etc...as I should...and as is my responsibility.

Anyone...and I MEAN anyone that attempts to take that for which I work away from me and my family, is an enemy. I'm not talking about paying to fix roads that I use, or paying for the school my children attend...I'm talking about taking from my family to give to someone else's family. THAT is not my responsibility. Taking from my family has repercussions. Maybe my children can't go to college because of it. Maybe they can't get the right medical treatment. Maybe they don't learn as well or as much as they should because someone has taken that ability from us...when WE worked hard for that.

Hell...I would argue that if you take $100 more from me each year and give it to someone else, you have damaged the future of my family. At least potentially. And NO ONE has a right to do so! I help people all the time. I pay out money to people, give them assistance, I do quite a bit of my own free will. But I'll be DAMNED if I sit back and allow anyone to take from my loved ones against my will. And yes...I will fight anyone who tries. I may loose...I may have no chance of winning. But I will fight and if nothing else, hurt them in the process.

Why? Because I love my family and it is my responsibility.

The lottery would definitely be considered a capitalist system. Many people try, yet very few manage to "win" or make it to the top if you will. Lots of losers, very few winners. Have you taken a look at the richest few compared to all of us lately? The lottery is a near perfect analogy.

Socialism is a system in which everyone owns everything equally. In a true socialist system, everyone who decided to pitch in money, would inevitably just win the same amount of money they originally pitched in. It would end up being a silly and pointless game really.

a reply to: 3NL1GHT3N3D1

Socialism is the opposite of the lottery. Lottery collects a small amount from everyone who voluntarily participates and gives it all to one or two people. Socialism collects, by mandate, most of its capital from the wealthy and redistributes meager sums to everyone.

a reply to: 3NL1GHT3N3D1

You're not forced to buy a lottery ticket. It's voluntary. There is the difference.

originally posted by: 3NL1GHT3N3D1
So I guess that means that if you're anti-socialist and participated in the lottery, you are only anti-socialist when it doesn't benefit you in particular, meaning you are only faking being against socialism.

What an unenlightened, ignorant statement.

Without caring enough to read the rest of the comments in this thread (and I'm sure plenty have called you out on this terrible claim of yours), the difference between a lottery and socialism is that one is forced through government, while the other is a game played by choice that doesn't affect any other aspect of one's life.

Well, that simple (but very major) difference, coupled with many other differences that need not be pointed out, because that is enough right there.

With your state of mind, all gambling is "socialism."

It is apparent that you have understanding as to what Socialism proper actually is.

a reply to: SlapMonkey

But socialism is people getting free stuff! At least that's the argument I hear around here all the time from anti-socialists. I guess with that definition, the lottery is socialist.

a reply to: 3NL1GHT3N3D1

Getting free stuff that other people are forced to pay for.

There is no such thing is free stuff - someone paid for it - doesn't have to monetary but in can be any form including death.

There is no true socialism system and never has been on this planet. Communism is/was/still is a extreme form of socialism and so is capitalism. However the latter one is much closer to the definition to socialism because it can be fair - and fair can be sometimes unfair in the eyes of those who challenge the system. Communism doesn't allow any of these freedoms and uses socialism as an smoke mirror but is in it's core a corrupt and unstable system. None of the communistic system on earth have prevailed. Not one - eventually all of them drifted towards capitalism.

Many like to paint the evil picture of capitalism but the truth is that it's much closer to socialism than any other system.

If we truly would embrace socialism we wouldn't have the need for money, little to no government, a small book of law - mostly for criminal activities .. it would be like the confederation in Star Trek - but that will never happen - because that's not how we work. There will be always abuse, corruption and people taking advantage of each other.

Btw .. the Lottery is the most unsocialistic system in the world probably. It's probably more a dictatorship.. Everyone giving up money for the one receiver.

Now by the OP's logic any event that includes "sharing" (a Taxi ride, a restaurant bill, etc) is socialism. Well.. not everything in life can be politicalized.

a reply to: 3NL1GHT3N3D1

You would be wise to use factual definitions of government systems, not what people on ATS make them out to be (or interpret them as).

There's no such thing as free stuff.

No the lottery is not Socialistic in nature.
The very foundation of Socialism is that the police power of the government is used to force participation.
The Lottery is voluntary.
You cant win or participate if you don't play.


Those like me who have libertarian beliefs have no issue with voluntary participation in all manner of political systems. If you want to live a communistic lifestyle on your private property with family and friends then rock on with your bad self. Just don't think I can be forced to accept your Utopian schemes.

Hmm. A bunch of poor people making a few people very rich. I guess that is socialism in its truest form.