Born on a mixed subsistence farm in rural Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia, Canada. Moved to Ontario in 1967 to attend University at what was then Waterloo Lutheran University and moved to Oakville, Ontario in 1971. Without intending to live up to the name became a letter carrier the following January and have worked for Canada Post ever since. I retired in August of 2008.

Sunday, August 13, 2006

No Gambler I

The gang at work twisted my arm to join in a Lotto 6/49 collective; they even had me buy the ticket.  Until this past Thursday I’d never bought a lottery ticket since the first lottery became legal in Canada in 1976 to support the Olympics in Montreal—Quebecers are still paying for that debacle by the way.  Over the years I’ve held a few losers given me by customers as Christmas Tips but I’d never bought one.  Last night’s experience confirms why!  Of the six numbers drawn only one of them appears even once among the 5 quick pick number sequences on the ticket.  Guess we know why I don’t get involved in lotteries.  As far as I’m concerned good luck is 100% perspiration.  I don’t even get a buzz off gambling.  When I finally got onto the internet and discovered it was possible to participate in Casino Gambling online I was flabbergasted—as far as I’m concerned you might just as well take your twenty dollar bill and set a match to it.  At least that way it would generate some heat and light.  I happen to agree with whoever it was who said that gambling is a tax on the poor and vulnerable.  Of course it’s been around about as long as prostitution; I just don’t understand why that hasn’t been legalized so that it can be taxed as well!  The NDP Government, while it was in power in Ontario legalized Sunday Shopping, Toll Highways, and Casino Gambling—why they couldn’t hold their noses and go the next step is beyond me.  And you wonder why ordinary citizens are cynical about politics.  When I vote it’s a matter of choosing the lesser of the evils; I don’t see that there is much choice. 

 

You’ll remember that Mayor Drapeau is quoted as saying that “The Olympics can no more have a deficit than a man can have a baby.”  Of course the original statement would have been made en Francais.  Income tax was introduced into Canada as a temporary measure to pay for World War # 1.  In closing, a joke:

 

A politician was asking a constituent about which tax he felt was the fairest.

 

His constituent answered he believed that to be the Poll Tax.

 

“But that one has been repealed.” Said the politician.

 

“Exactly!” said the voter. 

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