Editor: The following is a weekly 60 Minutes commentary by CBS News correspondent Andy Rooney, originally broadcast on March 19, 2006, and re-broadcast last night.
The study that Rooney quotes, saying that poor people gamble the most, is completely false. All credible studies show that all demographics gamble roughly the same amount. Rooney's commentary is shown here to illustrate the ignorant and myopic arguments of some anti-lottery critics.
I suppose it's true that I'm too easily annoyed but there is nothing that annoys me more than the story we all see every couple of weeks about someone who has won the lottery. Newspapers and television ought to charge for advertising lottery winners.
The most recent story was about workers in a meat packing plant in Nebraska, who won $365 million. What I always want to read is stories about lottery losers, there never are any.
There ought to be a law making it compulsory for anyone who reports the name of the winner of a lottery, to also give the name of all the losers. The names would be followed by the amount each person lost — just the way they give the amount the winner got.
Lotteries usually pay out less than half of what is bet. It's the worst odds of any gambling operation.
You see people buying lottery tickets all the time and it's obvious that most lottery money comes from the poorest people. They don't look too smart either.
Some of them cash their unemployment checks and buy lottery tickets with that money. Then they need more help from the rest of us.
There was a National Gambling Impact Study and in every one of the 48 States that has gambling — only Utah and Hawaii don't — the people who make the least gamble the most.
Lower income people in Massachusetts, for example, spent 15 times as much on gambling as people who make a decent living. [Editor: This statement shows that you can prove anything using statistics, even something as outrageously false as this.]
I think we're all willing to accept some responsibility for helping people who can't help themselves. We approve of using some of our tax money for welfare to help the helpless. What I don't approve of is any government agency buying radio commercials to encourage the poor to waste what we give them on lottery tickets.
"You can't live the dream if you don't play the game, the New York Lottery. Attention lottery players watch the official televised lottery drawing every night on ABC 7. Tune in tonight and watch the winning numbers as they come up," one recent commercial went.
I'm embarrassed to say that commercial was on CBS.
A lottery is a stupid, inefficient way to raise money. Governments are supposed to do things that we can't do for ourselves — like fight wars, enforce laws, prevent crimes and put out fires.
It's outrageous when a government agency advertises to encourage anything as damaging to society as gambling is.
I saw this last night also. I was a little disappointed but what can you say. People with money think they are better than everyone else. What can you do?
I can't help but point out that CBS is really See BS. Wait until Katie becomes anchor of the See BS Evening News in September. She'll make Andy look normal.
Well, I am lottery player not a big gambler at big casinos. In lottery pond, It still has true winners ? Why someone call someone like me stupid ?
I just hope there'is no a weird meeting made by some VIP talking about shut down lottery ? We need something fun in the life! never mind whoever call me "really stupid"
Andy Rooney should look at the history of the lottery. Paul Revere ran a lottery to pay for the revolution. The history of America is tied to the lottery. I guess America and Americans are stupid Andy.
Andy Rooney is not the first person to say playing the lottery is stupid.
Several times a year a local stupid person tells me the same thing while I'm buying lottery tickets. How do I know they're stupid too? They are usually buying a carton of cigarettes or a six-pack of beer at the time.
Maybe Andy should also do a piece about the stupid people who smoke cigarettes and drink beer. I wonder if Andy smokes or drinks.
Andy sounded like a post I read some time ago but a lot of people think of his words as gold In Biloxi some people think that every one cashed Fima checks at the Casinos only part true
A gambler is a gambler is a gambler, rich or poor, stupid or not. Some may be addicted, some just do it for entertainment.
It is commonly perceived that there are more poor people gambling or buying the lotteries than rich people, and perhaps this could be true; but I believe the reason is because there are just much more poor people than rich people. If there were more rich people than poor, then there would be a reversed perception.
Some (stupid) people spend their money onwomen, booze, cigarettes, drugs, donations to political parties, donations to churches, mosques and synagogues with crooked pastors and rabbis and imams ,and some just send their money to foreign countries to buy more bombs , to steal more land and put the landowners in refugee camps to bomb them at will..
Andy wouldn't be in any of these categories, right?
Quote: Originally posted by jeffrey on Aug 7, 2006
I heard they cashed them at jewelry stores, porn shops, liquor stores and casinos.
Litebets started a thread on this subject last night. I already posted, but your comment is interesting. When we read about the victims of hurricane Katrina taking the $2,000 and using it to buy porn, gamble and go to Vegas, maybe it was grossly over-exaggerated too. I certainly was quick to pass judgment. The media plays on our prejudices as well as our emotions. There is a general attitude that people in lower income brackets are morally deficit which is why white collar crime is often overlooked. I once worked for an auto loan company - believe me, there are people who make double-digit incomes with lousy credit and don't pay their bills. Being responsible isn't always about how much money you make.
I'm sure there are some people on food stamps who buy lottery tickets with welfare money, and as a taxpayer I disapprove. However, poor people spending an occasional dollar or 2 a week for a shot at a better life isn't what costs the government trillions of dollars.
From Andy's article:"...What I don't approve of is any government agency buying radio commercials to encourage the poor to waste what we give them on lottery tickets..."
What we see is Andy's bigotry against the poor.There are no commercial that encourage the poor to buy lottery tickets.They encourage anyone over 18 to buy tickets.
"...You see people buying lottery tickets all the time and it's obvious that most lottery money comes from the poorest people.They don't look too smart either..."
You really want to talk about looks Andy?
It's Andy who thinks only the poor shouldn't be allowed to buy lottery tickets with his money.Does he have a problem with the rich buying lottery tickets?Does he have a problem with the wealthy getting tax breaks?What about corporate welfare?Any problem with how the rich spend their money Andy?
Perhaps Andy has been hanging out with his good buddy Mel Gibson,eh?
No,just like many others,Andy wants to tell the poor how they can or can't spend their own money.Maybe we'll tell CBS how to spend their money;and how to save it,by canning Andy Rooney.
Quote: Originally posted by orangeman on Aug 7, 2006
I can't help but point out that CBS is really See BS. Wait until Katie becomes anchor of the See BS Evening News in September. She'll make Andy look normal.
Orangeman
Orangeman, that's hysterical. I was going to give you the credit for a brilliant observation, but I just googled it and there are a few links using See BS. Still, thanks for pointing that out to us. Do you have one for CNN? I often wonder if I'm watching the news or a drama starring Anderson Cooper.
I'm not surprised Andy Rooney would say something like this. He's always going off about something. Madtv makes him look like a mad man in their skits. lol.
For a lot of people, and this includes most working slobs, the lottery offers hope that they can stop being a working slob, and in most cases, that's about the only way they could do that.
People like Rooney, who we can be sure is paid very well, have no concept of living paycheck to paycheck, or if they ever did, 'how soon they forget'.
Rooney could have said something like a lot of people who play the lottery shouldn't spend as much as they do on it, but to say lottery players are stupid doesn't say much for him.
Apparently Andy Rooney likes to hear himself talk, but he doen't always listen to what he is saying all of the time. His statement was one man's opinion, and it kind of sounded like a jealousy outburst over the fact that people that he considered as "poor" one day came into riches over night when he has worked so hard for so many years for what he has.
I wonder if anyone approves his statements before he makes them on air.( apparently not)
I don't know, Todd. I always liked Clinton so I really have a hard time swallowing that!
BTW, either nobody read my first post (or cares) but I meant "6 digit income" not double digit income, when I was referring to people who make a good living. Sometimes my fingers don't type what my brain tells them. Maybe I should start a thread with the topic of "how many times have you screwed up your post on LP?"
CNN considers itself a stateless "International" news network serving planet Earth. That explains a lot about their viewpoint. Personally, I call them the Crescent News Network because they favor the Arabs and run down Israel.
ABC, the Arab Broadcast Company, is especially bad about their little asides on Nightline. Terry Moran is a sicko leftist stooge and I don't know where they dug up that moron who is anchoring it now. Some raghead with a British accent.
Peter Jennings used to date a "lady" who eventually became a spokesperson for the Palestinian Liberation Organization. He only became a U.S. citizen a year or two before he died of cancer. Guilty conscience, I guess.
Don't even get me started on Chrestian Amandor! She is an apologist for the Iranians! Could be because she is half Iranian . . . duh . . .
If the Arab agents on Nightline say "It is a Sign of the Times" one more time I am going to reach through the TV and strangle somebody.
Andy needs to check his resources. Jack Whittaker was a self made millionaire he won over $300 mil, there was another man in Illinois he was also a extremely wealthy person he won over $200 million. So it's not just the poor that play the lottery, if Andy would have gone through the archives of past lottery winners there is more of majority that were well off that have won, leaving the social players and the ones that will spend thier last penny on tickets. It's a mixing pot of people that play the lottery because as they say you can't win if you don't play. You'll never know if your numbers are finally coming up if you don't buy that $1.00 ticket.
This....from the network that gave us Dan Rather...
nuff said.
60 Minutes is based in NYC. I get the feeling that Mr Rooney would RATHER not play NY Lotto.
i have a feeling andy rooney would choose annuities and play computerized drawings.this man doesn't deserve to draw another annuitized breath.......
By the way, Andy..
I think you are stupid. And do something about those eyebrows..
Maybe the viewers should be given the opportunity to vote on whether Andy Rooney is earning a "stupid" SALARY for giving his opinion on ANYTHING.
Andy Rooney is a first class jerk. He's been spouting his inane ideas for years.
I saw this last night also. I was a little disappointed but what can you say. People with money think they are better than everyone else. What can you do?
Brad
As far as I'm concerned, getting a gig on a show like 60 minutes, is equivalent to winning the lottery.
I can't help but point out that CBS is really See BS. Wait until Katie becomes anchor of the See BS Evening News in September. She'll make Andy look normal.
Orangeman
Well, I am lottery player not a big gambler at big casinos. In lottery pond, It still has true winners ? Why someone call someone like me stupid ?
I just hope there'is no a weird meeting made by some VIP talking about shut down lottery ? We need something fun in the life! never mind whoever call me "really stupid"
Andy Rooney should look at the history of the lottery. Paul Revere ran a lottery to pay for the revolution. The history of America is tied to the lottery. I guess America and Americans are stupid Andy.
Andy Rooney is not the first person to say playing the lottery is stupid.
Several times a year a local stupid person tells me the same thing while I'm buying lottery tickets. How do I know they're stupid too? They are usually buying a carton of cigarettes or a six-pack of beer at the time.
Maybe Andy should also do a piece about the stupid people who smoke cigarettes and drink beer. I wonder if Andy smokes or drinks.
Andy sounded like a post I read some time ago but a lot of people think of his words as gold In Biloxi some people think that every one cashed Fima checks at the Casinos only part true
A gambler is a gambler is a gambler, rich or poor, stupid or not. Some may be addicted, some just do it for entertainment.
It is commonly perceived that there are more poor people gambling or buying the lotteries than rich people, and perhaps this could be true; but I believe the reason is because there are just much more poor people than rich people. If there were more rich people than poor, then there would be a reversed perception.
I heard they cashed them at jewelry stores, porn shops, liquor stores and casinos.
Way to go Andy.
Some (stupid) people spend their money onwomen, booze, cigarettes, drugs, donations to political parties, donations to churches, mosques and synagogues with crooked pastors and rabbis and imams ,and some just send their money to foreign countries to buy more bombs , to steal more land and put the landowners in refugee camps to bomb them at will..
Andy wouldn't be in any of these categories, right?
Litebets started a thread on this subject last night. I already posted, but your comment is interesting. When we read about the victims of hurricane Katrina taking the $2,000 and using it to buy porn, gamble and go to Vegas, maybe it was grossly over-exaggerated too. I certainly was quick to pass judgment. The media plays on our prejudices as well as our emotions. There is a general attitude that people in lower income brackets are morally deficit which is why white collar crime is often overlooked. I once worked for an auto loan company - believe me, there are people who make double-digit incomes with lousy credit and don't pay their bills. Being responsible isn't always about how much money you make.
I'm sure there are some people on food stamps who buy lottery tickets with welfare money, and as a taxpayer I disapprove. However, poor people spending an occasional dollar or 2 a week for a shot at a better life isn't what costs the government trillions of dollars.
From Andy's article:"...What I don't approve of is any government agency buying radio commercials to encourage the poor to waste what we give them on lottery tickets..."
What we see is Andy's bigotry against the poor.There are no commercial that encourage the poor to buy lottery tickets.They encourage anyone over 18 to buy tickets.
"...You see people buying lottery tickets all the time and it's obvious that most lottery money comes from the poorest people.They don't look too smart either..."
You really want to talk about looks Andy?
It's Andy who thinks only the poor shouldn't be allowed to buy lottery tickets with his money.Does he have a problem with the rich buying lottery tickets?Does he have a problem with the wealthy getting tax breaks?What about corporate welfare?Any problem with how the rich spend their money Andy?
Perhaps Andy has been hanging out with his good buddy Mel Gibson,eh?
No,just like many others,Andy wants to tell the poor how they can or can't spend their own money.Maybe we'll tell CBS how to spend their money;and how to save it,by canning Andy Rooney.
Orangeman, that's hysterical. I was going to give you the credit for a brilliant observation, but I just googled it and there are a few links using See BS. Still, thanks for pointing that out to us. Do you have one for CNN? I often wonder if I'm watching the news or a drama starring Anderson Cooper.
Do you know what CNN stands for?
Constantly Negative News.
I'm not surprised Andy Rooney would say something like this. He's always going off about something. Madtv makes him look like a mad man in their skits. lol.
I thought it was Clinton News Network.
For a lot of people, and this includes most working slobs, the lottery offers hope that they can stop being a working slob, and in most cases, that's about the only way they could do that.
People like Rooney, who we can be sure is paid very well, have no concept of living paycheck to paycheck, or if they ever did, 'how soon they forget'.
Rooney could have said something like a lot of people who play the lottery shouldn't spend as much as they do on it, but to say lottery players are stupid doesn't say much for him.
Apparently Andy Rooney likes to hear himself talk, but he doen't always listen to what he is saying all of the time. His statement was one man's opinion, and it kind of sounded like a jealousy outburst over the fact that people that he considered as "poor" one day came into riches over night when he has worked so hard for so many years for what he has.
I wonder if anyone approves his statements before he makes them on air.( apparently not)
litebets
I'm a bottom line type person, so here it is...
Who really gives a fat rats arse what Andy Rooney says about anything ?
DD
I don't know, Todd. I always liked Clinton so I really have a hard time swallowing that!
BTW, either nobody read my first post (or cares) but I meant "6 digit income" not double digit income, when I was referring to people who make a good living. Sometimes my fingers don't type what my brain tells them. Maybe I should start a thread with the topic of "how many times have you screwed up your post on LP?"
I missed it like most shows on CBS. I don't watch much tv especially shows that are aimed at the "Depends" market like 60 minutes.
CNN considers itself a stateless "International" news network serving planet Earth. That explains a lot about their viewpoint. Personally, I call them the Crescent News Network because they favor the Arabs and run down Israel.
ABC, the Arab Broadcast Company, is especially bad about their little asides on Nightline. Terry Moran is a sicko leftist stooge and I don't know where they dug up that moron who is anchoring it now. Some raghead with a British accent.
Peter Jennings used to date a "lady" who eventually became a spokesperson for the Palestinian Liberation Organization. He only became a U.S. citizen a year or two before he died of cancer. Guilty conscience, I guess.
Don't even get me started on Chrestian Amandor! She is an apologist for the Iranians! Could be because she is half Iranian . . . duh . . .
If the Arab agents on Nightline say "It is a Sign of the Times" one more time I am going to reach through the TV and strangle somebody.
Orangeman
Andy needs to check his resources. Jack Whittaker was a self made millionaire he won over $300 mil, there was another man in Illinois he was also a extremely wealthy person he won over $200 million. So it's not just the poor that play the lottery, if Andy would have gone through the archives of past lottery winners there is more of majority that were well off that have won, leaving the social players and the ones that will spend thier last penny on tickets. It's a mixing pot of people that play the lottery because as they say you can't win if you don't play. You'll never know if your numbers are finally coming up if you don't buy that $1.00 ticket.