Lotto Nation Confirmed

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Keith Olbermann comments on polling data that backs up his earlier assertion that the reason many poor people support policies that hurt their interests while helping the wealthy is that they believe they will one day be wealthy.

Keith Olbermann. (image: FOK News Channel)

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+62 # RSJ 2011-05-09 15:53

I'll bet that 50 percent who believes they'll be rich (or close to it) in five years are also diehard Christopublican s who, as well as having faith they can violate most of Jesus' teachings and still get into heaven, continue to think that wealthy people and corporations that pay almost nothing in taxes will hire more workers at good wages, despite the evidence to the contrary, and persist in crediting the Republican Party with having any concern for Constitutional law, individual rights or the future well-being of the nation. Fortunately, they are a dwindling breed, kept alive mainly by mass media attention and the head-slapping weakness of the Dems in making their case.

+23 # Syacht 2011-05-09 21:39

You are so correct and accurately describe "the head=slapping weakness of the Dems in making their case"! It appears there is simply no effort made to communicate! The Repug consistently state their 'talking points' over and over and the Dems stay silent. I do not understand it.

+14 # kernel85 2011-05-10 08:35

I wonder if it has something to do with the corporate media inviting right-wingers to comment more often than liberals. Last Sunday the morning TV talk shows reportedly had nine opining from the right and three from the left or center. I don't mean that Dems couldn't make more noise, just that they aren't handed as many opportunities.

+8 # billy bob 2011-05-10 10:11

It's been that way as long as I can remember. Even when they do include Democrats, it's always a balancing act between ultra right-wing extremists like buchanan and some Democratic moderate like eleanor clift.

+10 # Dave W. 2011-05-10 11:51

RSJ, Good post! My only quibble would be "they are a dwindling breed." That would depend on where you live, who you associate with, where you work,etc. They sure as hell ain't dwindlin' in Texas or any one of a number of Midwest or Southern states. I've always adhered to the "rubbing shoulders" syndrome by which people vote Republican, despite it NOT being in their best economic interests, because it makes them "feel" superior. A basic human frailty is the almost compulsory need to find "someone" sometimes "anyone" to look down on. That fundamental weakness has been exploited in gender,race,lab or disputes for generations. Many of us NEED to feel superior. Until we don't "lotto nation" will keep selling tickets. As Barnum said, "there's a sucker born every minute."

+2 # billy bob 2011-05-11 14:07

You're right. They aren't a dwindling breed. The older repuglicans with some sense of common respect are, though.

+1 # Cliff 2011-05-11 17:25

I agree except that they aren't a dying breed. They breed like flies.

+46 # portiz 2011-05-09 20:09

Lotteries are nothing more than taxes on the 'statistically challenged'. And, cutting taxes on the wealthiest (at the expense of everyone else) is nothing better than taking advantage of the hopes and dreams of people who can least afford it.

The cost of freedom is eternal vigilance, but by limiting access to education the GOP/TEA/Me party is ensuring that they'll never need to answer the tough questions.

+30 # Texas Aggie 2011-05-09 21:21

Speaking about limiting education, the movers and shakers and financial supporters of the gop/tp/me party that you mention are actually actively working towards and unabashedly admitting that they intend to destroy public education. Their main purpose is to get their hands on the money that goes into education, and their main tactic is to buy state legislators to further their agenda of vouchers paid for by tax dollars but going to private "enterprise." By and large, private, for profit charter schools are part of the same agenda.

+14 # kernel85 2011-05-10 08:46

And if the GOoPers are successful in destroying public education, look for tuition vouchers for poor people and minorities to then disappear because they're too expensive.

+7 # shirleykressel 2011-05-11 06:35

Vouchers for poor people won't work because private schools won't accept those kids. That's the whole point of BEING a private school: you give your kids an exclusive, hand-picked set of peers. Where will the poor kids, especially those of color, take those vouchers, once the public schools are dismantled? Eventually, to religious schools, who will be willing to take anyone -- for the money and for the proselytizing opportunity.

+9 # StPete 2011-05-10 05:13

'statistically challenged' AKA 'fool's tax'

+10 # kathryn cookie scott 2011-05-09 20:59

Keith, no doubt You are on to something. I have to remember I am a conscious human being..Like me friends who pay taxes are grateful to help those less fortunate...as I dream of some day having more than I need financially. ... but those dreams like my friends include the greater common good and giving back to society. ...I can only imaging how self a human being one would have to be. As to dream to be rich and not give back and no concern for the greater good...miserabl e souls...

+10 # T. Garcia 2011-05-09 22:02

Keith, I wish it were so simple. It has more to do with ignorance of what is in their interests, and a gullibility for trusting professed religious persons.

The ignorance is the result of politician's conspiracy of political ignorance. By not teaching in public schools how to resist advertising scams and lies, many people vote according to who spends more on ads, and more often than not, it turns out to have been against their best interests. There are other reasons why many of the masses are asses in exercising right to vote, but I think the power of $$ over everything else, including gods, is misunderstood with regard to voting.

+6 # Thomas Izaguirre 2011-05-10 06:08

But the Free Market is our friend, one that would never try to sell us anything wasteful or needless, much less harmful to us because that would simply not make good business sense. There is no need for all this buttinski consumer protection which is nothing more than a way to take money from us taxpayers while hindering the efforts of honest entrepreneurs to sell us the goods and services they in their omniscient benevolence provide for us! Where would that poor barista be if I didn't fork over $20/week at Starbucks? If I don't feel like living the high life, I can simply choose to go to the Dollar Store. It is the quantity, not quality, of choices that ultimately matters because the best ones will always win out! That's the cosmic law of supply and demand, O' ye of little faith...Big Brother Gov't is always watching you but at least the Free Market is also watching for you...you ungrateful skeptic!

+5 # tonenotvolume 2011-05-10 08:08

There's another "teacher blame". Ignorance and stupidity are different. Schools help the former but can only put a gloss on the latter.

+21 # Shespeaks 2011-05-10 00:07

All you have to do is listen to preachers on evangelical programming to understand what is going on with a segment of the population. The word is, send money and Jesus will make you rich. He wants you to be rich. You send me twenty, fifty, a hundred dollars, and you will get it back a thousand fold.

Even Oprah was hyping the book "The Secret" (to getting rich). Trump is in trouble for his "Trump University" which claims to give people the instant tools to get rich. (like Trump) It's not so much that Americans believe they will win the lottery. It is that they are too lazy and intellectually unable to do what is required to make it. So they look for the easy, instant, sure thing. Whether it is giving money to Benny Hinn or Donald Trump or buying "The Secret", they believe in the miracle of easy money and entitlement.

The lotto can take many forms.

+12 # Thomas Izaguirre 2011-05-10 06:13

The gospel of Prosperity Theology is unfortunately packaged and promoted in secular (cf. Ayn Rand) as well as religious form (Rev. Ike) and we can see it trickling down in the forms of cash advance parlors and rent-to-usurp stores in poor neighborhoods. The sheer complexity of this and its near-constant inculcation starting with the Puritans is too much to detail here but Olbermann nails its current effects accurately.

+19 # m 2011-05-10 00:31

Another BIG reason may just be that almost all Media Enterprises in America are now owned, controlled, operated and readily exploited by just a very few gigantic GLOBAL Corporations which are beholden only to their Wealthy GLOBAL Shareholders and increasing their Wealthy GLOBAL Shareholders' wealth.
Not only are most of these huge, sweeping Media Fiefdoms incredibly CONservative... ALL of Global Corporate Media is a SELLING MACHINE that sells everything--- INCLUDING WONDERFUL, ENDLESS STREAMS OF IMAGES OF THE RICH AND FAMOUS GETTING RICHER AND MORE FAMOUS AND INFAMOUS ALL THE TIME...
Gee Gosh Golly... How can we tax such nice, beautiful, perfectsuper dooper rich people..?
I also think American Media Empires are selling OUR Republic down the tubes for simple minded profit... and also that much of it is an intricate, deliberate part of the biggest heist in human history which is and has been underway for decades now and which amounts to the largest transfer of wealth and power ever---- from 98% of Americans unto the 2% GLOBAL Corporate Wealthy Class... And almost all of it done by way of Flim Flamming ordinary voters into voting it all away from THEMSELVES because they were led to believe that doing so was and is the pathway to greater Liberty, Freedom and Prosperity....
Well maybe it is--> FOR THE 2% GLOBAL CORPORATE WEALTHY CLASS..!

-35 # diospsytrek 2011-05-10 02:30

many of the "poor" & "stupid" that olbermann is so disdainful of actually have something called integrity & they value indepenence more than a government dole - this is something that mystifies ivy league educated libs. Also, Hope is born in the human soul, even in the dopes that blindly believe big government & handouts are the answer--be it that or lotto.

+16 # billy bob 2011-05-10 06:05

Either that or they don't realize that the people they worship DON'T have any integrity, and that "rugged individualism" is a myth.

+35 # billy bob 2011-05-10 06:14

Think of how much money we could save if conservatives promised not to accept disaster aid when their houses are flooded.

Imagine what we could save if we'd stop giving handouts to military contractors who don't have to account for the money received.

I think conservatives should stop accepting money from the federal government. Unfortunately, as it stands, the most conservative states in the country are also the ones that accept the most money from "big government". In fact, red states tend to GET more from "big government" than they pay into it. The blue states tend to be the ones paying more than they receive.

Yep, a LOT could be saved by just forcing conservatives to have the "INTEGRITY" to stop accepting federal money.

+20 # Thomas Izaguirre 2011-05-10 06:20

In the words of Epictetus (treasured by the late Admiral Stockdale mind you):

"Be careful to leave thy children well educated rather than rich, for the hopes of the educated are better than the wealth of the ignorant."

+28 # Joan Manning 2011-05-10 07:10

The "ivy league educated libs" think the poor have no integrity and therefore promote a "government dole"? What nonsense! If you worked as I do trying to help the poor you would soon learn that there are few able-bodied poor people who wouldn't love a good-paying job. Living as a poor person means watching your teeth rot, your roof leak, and seeing the pittance you subsist on be cut by a callous government. The poor are considered lazy by the ignorant who still believe that hard work will make you rich - the old bootstrap baloney. Obviously, many people still believe it.

+3 # billy bob 2011-05-10 10:13

At least many people PRETEND to believe it.

+23 # Jean Louise 2011-05-10 07:17

Quoting diospsytrek:

many of the "poor" & "stupid" that olbermann is so disdainful of actually have something called integrity & they value indepenence more than a government dole - this is something that mystifies ivy league educated libs. Also, Hope is born in the human soul, even in the dopes that blindly believe big government & handouts are the answer--be it that or lotto.

You can have all of the integrity that you want, but it won't put gas in your tank, food on your table or tuition in your children's pockets when you are faced with stagnant wages -if you can find a job at all- while corporations sit on billions of dollars in cash and still are not hiring. It's time the Koch suckers realized who their enemies really are.
I personally have no desire to "rob from the rich", but I just want everyone, EVERYONE including corporations and the super rich to pay their fair share of taxes so that police, teachers and firemen get paid and the infrastructure doesn't crumble under me and YOU!

+3 # Glen 2011-05-11 03:50

diospsytrek, it appears some folks didn't read your post carefully. You are right that many so called poor (a debatable term and one that is qualified in a number of different ways) definitely have integrity and pride. There are just as many ignorant individuals spread through U.S. society as is claimed among the "poor".

There is no one group that hasn't voted against their own best interests. Or, that haven't bought lotto tickets.

+11 # Dave W. 2011-05-11 04:32

diospsytrek, There are millions of "poor" children, who simply don't have the years to labeled "stupid", that don't know a damn thing about "government dole" or "big government and handouts." They only know if they have a bed to sleep in, something resembling FOOD in their cupboards and refrigerators or even a place to call home at all. You state "hope is born in the human soul." You forget to mention or perhaps recognize many in this country have no soul. They have a "cash register" where their heart should be, they eschew "conservative values" and actually could give a damn about their fellow human beings as long as they themselves are "in the chips." I'm sure some malnourished child is not contemplating his or her role in "big government handouts" whilst they scour the cabinets for half a f*****g bowl of stale cheerios or yet another round of top-r-amen. But the conservatives want to do all and every thing possible for poor "women" to keep churning out children despite the fact they want absolutely nothing to do with their survival after being born. "The lord will provide",is what we've been told for centuries. So lets continue to indulge the whims of the yachting class, decimate our public school system, worship at the goddamned alter of unbridled wealth and wait for the rapture. "Hope" don't fill the cereal bowl and "independence" is euphemistic for die on your dime.

+6 # shirleykressel 2011-05-11 06:41

You think the corporations, and the m/billionaires they create, are "independent" and don't take government handouts? You think the super-rich got that way all on their own, without any government help?

If you are one of them, you know better.

If you are not, you might start reading the newspapers more. Google "corporate welfare," for some good information.

+3 # Cliff 2011-05-11 17:33

Corporation Welfare gets much more in handouts than any citizen welfare program that might help get someone back on their feet.

+25 # castaway5555 2011-05-10 04:51

The South won the Civil War of Ideas, with millions of transplants from the South and West South migrating to SoCal in the 30, 40s, 50s and 60s, growing prosperous in the post-WW2 government-welf are program called the aerospace industry. These migrants carried with them the values of the South - no unions, a hatred for FDR, a fear and loathing of Communism, Federalism and Socialism, a growing commitment to private schools and home-schooling (especially after Eisenhower and Little Rock), the Second Coming of Jesus and personal conversion and Hell for those who reject their Jesus. Reworked in SoCal, this soup produced Nixon and Reagan (tried for Goldwater), ultimately giving us today's GOP and the T-bags. Check out Darren Dochuk's remarkable book, "From Bible Belt to Sunbelt: Plain-Folk Religion, Grassroots Politics, and the Rise of Evangelical Conservatism."

+10 # billy bob 2011-05-10 06:08

Absolutely. I think it's also interesting that during the Depression, Roosevelt won every state in the South. I guess "big government" is only a problem for conservatives who don't need it at the moment.

+7 # Glen 2011-05-10 09:43

billy bob, the south was very much democrat for a long time, and in fact many terrorist organizations adhered to that party and thinking. It wasn't until serious integration began that folks turned and embraced the republicans, who knew very well how to take advantage of that.

+5 # billy bob 2011-05-10 10:20

You're right. It used to be that repuglicans stood for the rich and progressive social issues. Democrats stood for the poor and progressive social issues while tolerating the Dixie-crats whose only issue was making sure blacks didn't have equal rights.

Then, one day, Democrats stop tolerating the Dixie-crats and they all jumped ship. Boom! Nixon was elected by a landslide for two terms.

Now, where do you turn to if you're a hard core teapublican about race relations and immigration, etc. BUT you're also very hopelessly poor?

+5 # Glen 2011-05-10 11:18

Exactly, those poor folk have been voting against their best interests for quite some time. The emotional division between people was a genius plan under Reagan and continues to work. It used to be two choices only, now we have chaos. THAT keeps voters shuffling and off center.

0 # lisa d. 2011-05-10 15:25

Quoting castaway5555:

The South won the Civil War of Ideas, with millions of transplants from the South and West South migrating to SoCal in the 30, 40s, 50s and 60s, growing prosperous in the post-WW2 government-welfare program called the aerospace industry. These migrants carried with them the values of the South - no unions, a hatred for FDR, a fear and loathing of Communism, Federalism and Socialism, a growing commitment to private schools and home-schooling (especially after Eisenhower and Little Rock), the Second Coming of Jesus and personal conversion and Hell for those who reject their Jesus. Reworked in SoCal, this soup produced Nixon and Reagan (tried for Goldwater), ultimately giving us today's GOP and the T-bags. Check out Darren Dochuk's remarkable book, "From Bible Belt to Sunbelt: Plain-Folk Religion, Grassroots Politics, and the Rise of Evangelical Conservatism."

which is why i live in NORTHERN California ...

+6 # metcalf 2011-05-10 17:56

Be careful NoCal gave us Lungren (HR3) and McClintock along with a host of right wingers. The more we fight with each other, the easier it for the one percent to steal the wealth. I think the teabaggers are starting to figure out their medicare and social security are in trouble. I don't know we start ''educating' folks but we need to figure out a way.

+9 # Consuelo Hannan 2011-05-10 05:07

aren't there churches that preach riches for their members? if you go to a certain church and pray you will get a fortune. using god for wealth. give unto caesar what is ceasar's...

+3 # billy bob 2011-05-10 06:00

Robert Tilton comes to mind.

+15 # chinaski 2011-05-10 05:09

As a card-carrying lifetime member of the third estate, I can say that the lottery, as offered so generously by the state, is not an invitation to the table, but a pipe dream to help keep us asleep, and we know it.
It's the wanna-be corporate greyhounds that chase the rabbit of royalty, believing they've been invited to the feast, and have a place set for them at the table. These True Believers will toil endlessly for membership, but those at the top know better.
Economic hard times are a great time for corporations to cut their 'overhead', Reagan's Tinkle-Down economics notwithstanding . The corporate golden showers that rain on our little peasant parade won't be mistaken for largesse.

+7 # True Progressive 2011-05-10 11:37

Reagan's "Tinkle-Down" economics

The image that moniker suggests is soooooo true, the wealthy elite pissing on the rest of us.

+8 # lisa d. 2011-05-10 15:28

Quoting True Progressive:

Reagan's "Tinkle-Down" economics

The image that moniker suggests is soooooo true, the wealthy elite pissing on the rest of us.

we've been pissed ON for so long, i am starting to wonder when a majority are going to get pissed OFF!

+6 # Capn Canard 2011-05-10 06:14

Well, the naive sheeple are us. We all want and/or expect to be better off in the near future. If we didn't then why would we even bother to get up in the morning? In the last eight years I have had really hard times, but prior to my personal health disaster I won awards and great praise for my work. I am convinced I will regain my footing...and no I never buy any damn lotto tickets. I have also known many extremely talented and intelligent people who were likewise thrown under the bus. The News Industry/Journa lism has taken a huge hit mostly due to MISMANAGEMENT. He11, I'd call it corporate malfeasance all in a vain effort to prop up stock value. After all it is a very profitable industry... if they can't make a go of it then they are suffering from acute greediness causing a tunnel vision. It is something I have been barking about for all of those 8 to 10 years, but they won't listen to reason because the competition has higher profit margins, so gotta cut staff or make 'em take a week off unpaid or just let 'em go. Olbermann is right though. We all are guilty of expecting the clouds to part and the sun to shine. It is human nature to be hopeful, part of our DNA. Will it get better, well I am hopeful, but I have strong doubts. How could I have anything but?

+14 # HarryP 2011-05-10 06:54

Years ago, in an episode in “All in the Family,” Archie Bunker’s son-in-law wanted to know why Archie – who did manual labor on a loading dock - supported tax breaks for millionaires. “Archie,” the meathead said, “you’ll never be a millionaire.” Archie shot back, “but I could be.” As Archie used to say, “case closed.”

+5 # fredboy 2011-05-10 07:10

As Patrick Henry warned, "It is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth—and listen to the song of that siren, till she transforms us into beasts."

This is the tragedy of false hope. Somehow the lemmings have been brainwashed to believe it will happen to them. It may--but you have to plan and act and work for it. Odds are beyond those of a pinpoint lightning strike that wealth will one day fall from the sky.

+8 # DanInNM 2011-05-10 07:16

Dear Keith: I'm writing from Nat'l Hispanic U., San Jose, CA, where my daughter Rita works. (I'm on vacation.)

Although I'm a Christian, I'm also a thheosophist. (I have a degree in English.) Folks, I have no love for right-wing Christians. I neither need nor want to be rich. In our Liberal Catholic Cburch, the priests bishops can marry. And everyone is a volunteer--even the clergy. Christ was a poor man m(in material ways) all his life. So were many great saints. I think those who are "Christian" are little educated.

I have riches of my own, being healthy at my age: 82.

Thanks for everything Keith. I look forward to seeing you again soon!

Dan in Rio Rancho, northern NM.

+14 # Victor Chieco 2011-05-10 08:03

I grew up in the Bronx (NYC) in the fifties on the wrong side of the tracks and despite all the obstacles, I managed to make it to the top 2-3%. I don't mind paying more in taxes if it means more people will have the same opportunities I had. I do mind it if it means more people of my background have no choice but to be cannon fodder in our never ending wars.

+9 # Sandy Dover 2011-05-10 08:06

When we are young, we are idealists, then as we age, we experience the ups and downs, but somehow we keep on going. I have always been a realist, and never thought that I would be rich. So I can't believe that Americans really believe that crap. I see now a real danger, the continuing takeover of Corporations eating the small businesses. Pretty soon all we will have are Walmarts and Dollar stores. They will be filled with Chinese products as opposed to American made. Years ago, you could get 10-20 years out of, let's say, a toaster. Not anymore, you're lucky if it works for 6 months. Our Churches will tell us how much money we should give, and who to vote for. The American Dream was lost, while we were sleeping.

+7 # billy bob 2011-05-10 10:22

"Pretty soon all we will have are Walmarts and Dollar stores."

If you're familiar with small town America, you realize that's already happened in huge sections of the country.

+3 # frank 2011-05-10 09:42

1. Require all lotto winnings to be tax free. Then the irrationally hopeful won't fight for lower taxes on the rich.

2. Make statistics mandatory in school math classes. Then they will know what one in 11,000,000 really means, like being hit by lighting a dozen times.

+7 # Glen 2011-05-10 09:48

Ah - true capitalist attitudes and lessons:

Teach the kids high expectations.

Stand at a distance when there are low returns.

Show dismay at the resulting rage.

+5 # Wotan 2011-05-10 10:06

As for the odds of winning it big in the
lottery, you have 1 in tens of millions of a chance to win it big. I am having trouble
winning the 1/2 & 1/2 drawing in my golf
league where there are only 25 in the draw-
ing. In other words, you have no chance
and are not going to win the lottery. It is
stupid to think and hope otherwise.

0 # Julian Kernes 2011-05-10 10:08

http://www.equalitytrust.org.uk/why

+4 # sallyb 2011-05-10 15:41

In schooling for a teaching degree, I read that one huge reason the "forefathers" had for public schooling was to "create a better citizen." That thought really touched my heart. We again need pols who care to create better citizenry, rather than destroy its hopes.

+2 # Diane Johnson 2011-05-11 11:55

but beware the evangelical taliban. We'll all be in for hell if they gain control. dj

0 # Cliff 2011-05-11 17:47

Are you afraid that it will?

0 # GEC 2011-05-13 16:51

The same thing is happening here in Canada. They hate taxes (they serve no purpose), the attack on the public unions is just beginning and we now have our very own Fox Tv...Sun TV -- run by a man who came from our own PM's office. People here also for some reason vote against their own social and economic interests and vote in people who are nothing but corporate shrills. They even are starting to get people to believe that the american type of health care is better than our single payer government run system (and its not true that Canadians go to the US for treatment ... I am currently laid up for awhile and live in a border town and i wont even go on a day visit to the US just in case i have a relapse). Bit i think it comes down to this fact and this fact alone .."the sheep dont realize they are sheep". The power of the corporate media has served the elites well.

0 # Kat77 2011-05-14 22:00

Apparently you didn't manage to venture outside the democrat/republ ican thought paradigm during your time off, Mr. Olbermann.

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