Re: explicit govt monopoly rent-seeking (law abuse)
At 01:16 PM 01/05/2002 -0800, Petro wrote: On Thursday, January 3, 2002, at 04:01 PM, Michael Motyka wrote: My favorite is the lottery : can't gamble in your own home but they can run a statewide casino - how are they different from the mafia? The mafia at least pays lip service to the concept of Honor. Most state governments also give you a breakdown on the things that they spend the money on (with usually some weasel-words to avoid indicating that it's proceeds from scamming suckers. Usually the establishment of the lottery was justified to the voters by saying they'd spend the money on schools and old people; usually the actual spending is mostly for prisons (to keep druggies and gamblers in) and other disreputable things. The Mafia, by contrast, explains how they spend their money by saying Duh, we're the Mafia, whaddyatink? Also, the Mafia doesn't hypocritically claim that they're forbidding other people to run lotteries because they're immoral; they may claim that they're doing it because this is *my* territory. Of course, both of them let the Catholic Church and Fire Departments run bingo games. And at least back when I lived in New Jersey, we didn't get a state lottery until the Mafia agreed that it was ok to run it if the payoff was a lot worse than their Daily Number. (Mafia payoff was 60%; State was usually 50%.) On the other hand, Teri Gross on NPR was doing an interview with somebody who'd written a book about the current Philadelphia mob. Apparently, the concept of honor is long gone, even among the younger members of the old Italian families. And not only no honor, but not really even any style as a substitute. Buncha crude thugs, got no respect for nobody.
Re: explicit govt monopoly rent-seeking (law abuse)
On 5 Jan 2002, at 23:59, Bill Stewart wrote: Most state governments also give you a breakdown on the things that they spend the money on (with usually some weasel-words to avoid indicating that it's proceeds from scamming suckers. Usually the establishment of the lottery was justified to the voters by saying they'd spend the money on schools and old people; usually the actual spending is mostly for prisons (to keep druggies and gamblers in) and other disreputable things. Generally, asking questions like where does the state spend lottery money on is committing an error. If the sate gets more money earmarked for a specific pirpose, it spends less from general revenue for that purpose. Essentially, it's all general revenue. Also, the Mafia doesn't hypocritically claim that they're forbidding other people to run lotteries because they're immoral; they may claim that they're doing it because this is *my* territory. I think states do the same thing. Certainly in those states where the staes run the liquor stores they must admit that they keep their monopoly 1) for the money and 2) because they can. I think the real differences are 1) the mafia gives a much better payoff and 2) the state advertises the hell out of the lottery and sell their tickets everywhere. Therefore, the state ropes in a lot of suckers that probably aren't as inclined to gamble, whereas the mafia pretty much only gets fools who are dtermined to gamble. Of course, both of them let the Catholic Church and Fire Departments run bingo games. And at least back when I lived in New Jersey, we didn't get a state lottery until the Mafia agreed that it was ok to run it if the payoff was a lot worse than their Daily Number. (Mafia payoff was 60%; State was usually 50%.) I have a hard time believing the numbers are anywhere near this close. I think 40% is probably a more realistic number for state lotteries that 50%, and as for the mafia, 60% seems incredibly low. Nobody would go to a bookie that gave less than 90% payoff, and casino-style games tend to have like 97% payoff. On the other hand, Teri Gross on NPR was doing an interview with somebody who'd written a book about the current Philadelphia mob. Apparently, the concept of honor is long gone, even among the younger members of the old Italian families. And not only no honor, but not really even any style as a substitute. Buncha crude thugs, got no respect for nobody. Comes with assimilation I guess. George
Re: explicit govt monopoly rent-seeking (law abuse)
At 01:16 PM 1/5/2002 -0800, Petro wrote: On Thursday, January 3, 2002, at 04:01 PM, Michael Motyka wrote: My favorite is the lottery : can't gamble in your own home but they can run a statewide casino - how are they different from the mafia? The mafia at least pays lip service to the concept of Honor. When there is no justice a State is merely big scale exploitation, just like a gang of thieves is a miniature kingdom. -- Augustin
Re: explicit govt monopoly rent-seeking (law abuse)
1971 -- An angry Vietnam soldier, George Mellendorf sends letter to Richard Nixon complaining about slow delivery of mail to soldiers: It seems as if nobody cares if we get our mail. Nixon may have responded quickly with his letter of denial, but Mellendorf didn't get it until 1978 -- seven years after it was sent.(on this day;the daily bleed) Freudian Uniform Slip (ta pug) The man appointed by the governor of Texas as the state's director of homeland security in the U.S. war on terrorism, David Dewhurst, is also a candidate for lieutenant governor, and his recent patriot-themed campaign ad featured a large U.S. flag with a smartly dressed soldier standing in front of it. However, it was later discovered that the soldier in the photograph was not an American but a German soldier in a Luftwaffe uniform. [Dallas Morning News, 10-26-01]
Re: explicit govt monopoly rent-seeking (law abuse)
Anonymous wrote : The problem dates from the early 1930s, when utility companies delivered their bills by mailbox through their own employees out reading meters. The Postal Service saw a huge drop in revenue and decided to act. Enforcement became even more important in 1970, Dalton wrote, when Congress mandated that the Postal Service be self-sustaining. From http://latimes.com/editions/orange/la-00534jan03.story?coll=la%2Deditions%2Dorange Postal Service Delivers Stern Warning on Mailbox Misuse Enforcement: Agency tells Orange mobile home park residents to stop using receptacles to send notices, rent bills, newsletters sans postage. . Q: When government acts like this how are they different from a gang? A: Both rule by violence and terror, but a gang claims no moral authority. My favorite is the lottery : can't gamble in your own home but they can run a statewide casino - how are they different from the mafia? I think there is other wierdness that goes along with the USPS : something about price minimums for certain types of mail carried by the likes of FedEx and UPS. Protective pricing structures. I grew up a in a fairly rural area. We all put up our own mailboxes on posts. Every winter the damn plow knocked them over. Some went for brute force, heavy pipe set in concrete, others for more elegant angled pivoting supports. IIRC when you put up a mailbox ( paid for with your own $ ) it becomes property of the USPS. What about the old-fashioned mail slot on the front door? Illegal to possess now? Why don't the trailer park folk do the following : Update everyone's mail boxes. There will be two slots in the lid : one labelled US Mail the other labelled Private Mail label the bucket Private Property - No Trespassing Let the law come down hard on anyone who puts mail through the US Mail slot without postage. The whole thing sounds truly stupid and about par for the course. Mike
