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'Stop Predatory Gambling' executive director Les Bernal explains why the government is taking advantage of people who play the lottery.
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Latest developments on this big lottery that everybody seems to be talking about wherever you -- out in the lines are long Americans looking to.
Strike it rich tonight this powerball jackpots up to a half a billion dollars it's a record for this -- its second only to Mega Millions from back in March when it was over 600 million.
We have less -- back with a side today he's the executive director of stop.
Predatory gambling with his view on this switch for people haven't seen you before less refresh our memory this basic do you think this lotteries taking advantage of people right.
Chairman -- our mission as an organization is to get government -- -- the gambling business because it represents.
What -- government's biggest policy failures of the last forty years.
We've talked about how he.
And it's been talked about the last especially last two days when this the when these -- stories come back in the news the fact that.
Who lotteries this people argue are kind of like a stealth tax -- -- itself enough but you know it's that you're used people -- -- in.
And the government is raising revenue that way and it's not really advertise that way but you -- in your arguments to take it even a step further than that.
Share.
What -- represents is that government has founded a lot easier to to provide people fun.
-- real opportunity.
So instead of doing the hard work it takes to reform our schools.
-- we -- our pension systems and so forth.
We returned -- -- mean we have come to gimmicks like state lotteries.
And when people realize that this thing like this have a government program so that half billion dollar jackpot that -- the Emma keeps talking about for that represents the losses.
Of -- millions of Americans if that's half a billion dollars of -- of losses of the American people.
So what do you say to the other side of the argument I'd like -- coming India and this is actually sure everybody's talking about it you go anywhere in -- walk from a hallways here you -- on the street.
-- -- of did you -- I guarantee you hear somebody talk about this powerball -- five minutes or less if you went on the street today new Yorker anywhere else.
What do you say to someone you know what I understand your what you're saying less but that the same point it is fun I like close to bucks and -- I might win a few ought to million dollars and I don't mind it's mr.
the government raises a few bucks but I like double the fun -- -- something.
-- what -- this embodies this is about been on the serves as the public voice of American government today the most citizens.
It's constant calls to lose him their money and using guns and cars people to invest in country by savings bonds.
You know so what what you know the Consumer Federation of America did a poll it showed that more than one out of five Americans think the most practical way to build wealth.
Is the play the lottery etc.
people talk about this represents the American dream -- -- to millions of American citizens and that's why that is crazy that they have been one and what is that I forget even what I think it's a 175 million or some.
Idiotic number than in terms of what your odds aren't -- wanted 175.
Million become that lets Philip Miller added if you do your point about the -- -- that this -- about you know whether or not that the staff at Fox Business has an office -- for the Super -- -- prizes and a social -- you people who literally spanning.
You give you know people out of -- that's very hundreds and hundreds of dollars on these tickets state lotteries make 80% of their money.
Yeah costs a lot of people and the senate has always spend the two dollars -- good deals in by hundreds of -- tickets or whatever it is that you bucks a -- the alternative let me get this in.
-- you could make your point -- finish your point the alternative to this is what because.
It you know people say all the lotteries there to raise money for education and other things which we do need money for all we do you know we need to raise the money somehow I guess -- would you be alternative you think is what.
That the alternative is isn't as a government based on real prosperity and -- fair taxation.
Across the board I mean that there's a reason why states have higher taxes worst budget deficits you know who -- we have increased personal debt.
We -- serious about reforming government.
Pass a look at the issue of of the of state sponsored -- is that there represents everywhere its dominant in this this this powerball jackpot.
Brilliant and bodies how out of control what's become and how much of -- failed policies become.
Not stop predatory.
Gambling that's the group -- and dials less we thank you for come that's reported -- thank you for coming on and sharing it with us once again.
