You missed the part where FireWitch chastised you for doing a play on his/her user name and then turns around and does it to Sunglasses:
Unfortunately, that logic is skewed, in my opinion, bolding mine of course.
Business owners make tough decisions every damn day. Most importantly when times are tough, what to do to keep the business afloat when things are rough. They can’t win. If they asked each employee to take a pay cut, the business owner would be looked upon as a greedy bastard. If he or she lays people off, still a bastard.
I am so sick of people blasting business owners, especially small business owners that make very heart-wrenching decisions that most of them don’t want to do. However, with that said, Mr or Ms business owner makes those decisions to keep their company from going into bankruptcy. They make those decisions to keep 100 people employed rather than 125 (or whatever the case may be.)
Because his company makes millions doesn’t mean he’s worth millions. My dad’s company (yeah, I always bring personal items up because it suits my need to help other’s understand) brought in about $23 million a year in window sales. That didn’t mean my dad was worth $23 million that year, he had taxes, various ummm unbelievable but salaries to pay to his 215 employees, building (real estate) fees, truck purchases and insurance, manufacturing equipment to maintain, product to buy to make windows to sell, etc…it takes a damn hell of a lot to run even a small business.
These people create a lot of jobs. From the suppliers to the people that finish the product. It’s a cycle and to blast a small business man for winning the lottery is just crap.
My dad didn’t have a family while he was in business, we were second to his business. He worked very hard for every damn dime he made. In fact, it was so much so that the business my grandfather started, my dad bought from him, is now out of business because he retired and no one truly appreciated the work he put into helping the economy on a local level.
If my dad had won that jackpot, I would have been extremelly happy for him even though he doesn’t need it. He lives a very comfortable life. But why would he not be as deserving as a single mother?
That single mother made choices in her life. So did my father. So did the man that won this jackpot of cash. You make choices and frankly, I don’t think anyone is more deserving than the next.
Our choices in life, yes, they are choices, make us have the circumstances we live in. Single mom of three that is working two jobs is not more deserving in my eyes than a man who owns a company and does make difficult decisions he probably doesn’t want to make.
It makes no sense.
The poor playing this game are not likely to be able to afford it anyway and should focus on feeding, clothing and keeping a roof over their heads than playing a game of chance.
Whatever, this whole, he’s not deserving is not for us to judge but rather hope that he uses the money in a way that is positive for others. Apparently he plans on doing that. Only his heart can prove that he is willing to do more than just spend the money on only his heart’s desires.
Maybe the folks who are so unhappy about a successful, comfortable person winning the lottery should reflect on whether a lottery is a good idea at all.
It’s supposed to be random, you know. That means Bill Gates has as much of a chance as any of us - more, if he buys lots of tickets with his great wealth. He probably doesn’t - people generally don’t get rich making a lot of bad bets, which is what buying a lottery ticket really is.
I don’t suppose more than a very few people actually think the money should be withheld from Mr. West Virginia Business Owner, and redistributed to the truly needy? If that’s your political philosophy, how does a lottery fit in with that at all? Why not just have the government act as Robin Hood until all the wealth is evenly distributed, if you’re truly interested in achieving that goal?
I think lotteries are a bad idea for many reasons. But if we’re going to have them, expect surprises like this. Hate the results? Work to get rid of the lottery altogether, don’t resent the accidental winner.
Hola!
I hate when anyone but myself wins the Powerball, but at least this guy seems to be a good guy who is interested in helping others in the community. The redneck is a millionaire already.
Speaking of rednecks, the last winner of one of these big assed jackpots was a 20 year old girl from Georgia, who won 50 million. That makes me sick.
SENOR
The lottery has never bothered me because while it’s true that a wealthy person might have an advantage, I highly doubt that many millionaires bother anyway.
From what I’ve seen, most people who go for the lottery and win are anything but wealthy. shrug
I’m just glad for him, yanno? It’s like watching people you don’t know win something at the Price is Right. You can’t help but route for the contestants. Heh
Firewitch wrote:
Plenty of ignorant people arm themselves with facts and figures — all worthless as tits on a bull hog.
- cough *
Er, it’s “useless as tits on a boar”.
snappier, doncha know
Carry on.
I’ve always heard ‘tits on a bull’ but that’s just me…
So, I’ve been called trollish, stupid, ignorant, and accused of backpedaling and covering my tracks using the standard “excuses” Yet, (and I know someone will now do it) I haven’t, at least in this case, been called wrong.
Yes, indeed it was a bit of comedy, and no, I am not a sociologist attempting to delve into the collective psyche of the teeming masses, still it seems that is exactly what I have done, and while in the doing, have pissed a few of you right off. Good. Gathering that kind of ire shows you mean what you say, especially when you stick up for someone you’ve never even met.
Lib, I admit, it’s true, plenty of ignorant people arm themselves with facts and figures, most of them we elect, and all of them openly claim some kind of fervent political affiliation.
Further, (Techchick) I didn’t attack all small business owners, just this chap, and I did so because I question his motivation, I do not believe it is right or wrong, but I merely question.
I did indeed NOT say who deserved and did not deserve to win the thing, I personally am happy for anyone who, by whatever means, can lift themselves out of commonality and do things to help themselves and others, yet my opinion remains that I am happier when someone who desperately needs it, gets it.
Splanky, I was making reference to the possiblity that W.Va. like many other states, did indeed have it’s “share of ignorant, incestuous, child molesting, bible thumping idiots” and I did so using the states own statistics. It frightens and angers me that there are ANY pregnant 10-17 year olds, period. If that’s not child molestation, I’m not sure what is.
Regarding this fellow…I’ve done quite a bit of reading since I’ve been held over the coals here in the pit, and have learned quite a bit about Mr. Whittaker, though as I read, I am not necessarily compelled to believe. Still, I’d LIKE to believe he’s as gold-clad as the stories indicate, but that would be naive. I’m pretty sure that after 12 years in emergency services that I’ve stared the nature of humanity dead in the face, and am well acquainted with most sides of man, even more so than the sociologist.
Dealing en masse with the faithful; generally, I think faith is a good thing, yet at the same time, believe that religion is the root cause of very many problems in the global society. I see, from my own vantage point, the church as a whole as being a lecherous middleman, who skims first from the donations of the able and then from the hearts and minds of the downtrodden. Religion allows no room for free thought, or the questioning of authority, and in the process, is oppressive in its’ demands. Faith and positive personal action, I believe, are the only necessary components to achieve salvation, nirvana, summerland etc. So I suppose my negative bent toward religion has skewed my view of this possibly very nice person…
…but I doubt it.
But wasn’t very funny, and sounded downright mean.
Riiiiight, 'cause no teenager ever got pregnant by screwing another teenager. They all got knocked up by pedophile preachers.
According to their web page, Scott Depot WV has a population of 5,893, and yet…
cjhoworth: my best friend lives in that town
avabeth: one of my best friends is from that town
sunglasses: I live approximately ten miles from [there]
Blueberry Buckle: I grew up in the town.
jackelope: I’ve got a grandmother and several other relatives in Scott Depot!
Anybody else want to claim some connection to the guy who just won $315 million?
Now that’s funny.
That’s pretty amazing, seeing as how we’re both Memphis-area Dopers. I’ve got a grandmother and an aunt and uncle there. And a terrible scar on my forehead which I received in Scott Depot about 20 years ago, come to think of it.
Actually, when I posted, I was referring to the town where the ticket was bought and where I understand he lives, not Scott Depot, WV. When I posted, I hadn’t heard anything about Scott Depot. I don’t know how much of that applies to others.
CJ