Soviet propaganda: The “Arithmetic of an Alternative Plan: 2 + 2 plus the Enthusiasm of the Workers = 5” exhorts the workers of the Soviet Union to realise five years of production in four years’ time. (Iakov Guminer, 1931)
That is the best explanation possible for the propaganda of 2+2=5. “See? If you come to our side and support us, you just don’t get four but actually 5!” And you know people like some extra stuff for the same price and/or effort. If one side delivers 2+2=4 and the Socialists promise you 2+2=5, hell yes! You are going with the Socialists… but only you do not bother or want to read the historical reviews. Hell, if socialism was on Yelp, I don’t think it would even get a half a star.
The same people that blindly play the lottery thinking they will hit the 6 numbers plus the power ball with the absolute faith it will solve all their problems are the same people that believe in 2+2=5 and the lies of Socialism.
You don’t see many state lotteries going bankrupt, do you?
I use the “toss money into the gutter” test for my lottery purchases.
If I’m thinking, “Hey! I’ve got $5, I should simply toss it in the gutter”, instead, I’ll toss it into a lottery ticket.
Similar result, no littering.
Lotteries are a tax on people who can’t do math.
Hell, if socialism was on Yelp, I don’t think it would even get a half a star.
Oh, I think it would do a lot better than that. Have you read Yelp! reviews?
“We thought the theme of the restaurant sounded great, so we decided to try Che’s Authentica Cubana about a month ago. When we got there, it took forever to get seated and the waitress was rude. About half the items on the menu weren’t available, and when our meal finally came out (it took a long time), it was cold and they got the sides wrong. They didn’t do anything about the problems. It was also really expensive, and they added a tip of 25%, which we weren’t allowed to change.
We thought we’d give them another chance, so we went back a few weeks ago; this time they lost our reservation and the maitre d’ was really snooty about it. Our table linen was dirty, and our table was right between the kitchen door (close enough to thump my friend’s chair every time it opened) and the bathroom (which really, really needed cleaning). Although there were other empty tables, the waiter wouldn’t move us. The menu was at least up to date, but the selection was pretty bad. Same issues with the food as last time, but this time we both got what feels like a mild case of food posioning.
Last week we went back again (same long wait to sit, same table; this time the linen was clean but the stemware had lipstick on it). After we ordered and waited for around 1/2 an hour, the waitress told us the kitchen was closed due to flooding from the bathroom and we had to leave… and then handed us our bill with the same 25% tip, for food we never got.
But, you know, if they had had the right people running it, and the right staff, I think it would have been really great! It’s not the restaurant’s fault the owners don’t care about their staff or their patrons, and the staff are all rude and incompetent! Four stars! * * * *”
Socialism is proof that P.T. Barnum was an optimist.
“The same people that blindly play the lottery thinking they will hit the 6 numbers plus the power ball with the absolute faith it will solve all their problems are the same people that believe in 2+2=5 and the lies of Socialism.”
You are missing one important factor.
These same people also believe it will be someone else putting in the extra 25% effort to provide that additional perk. You see it all the time.
“Tax the rich to pay off my college loan.”
“The greedy rich are hoarding all the money.”
etc…
The difference between playing the Lottery and Socialism is that no one is holding a gun to your head to force you to buy a ticket.
Also the lottery sometimes works out ok.
Can’t say the same for socialism 😀
Meanwhile, in the old Soviet Union of the time, the workers would just smile and nod, crack a joke later among trusted friends, and drink cheap vodka to numb themselves.