Strange things people do

As stated, a tax is a payment you have no option but to pay, it's not a tax 

It's true for things that be to be paid, like vat on shopping or excise on petrol, they're regressive taxes as they have to be paid and effect people differently based on income, along your lines above, something that isn't necessary/compulsory can never be a tax 

Doing an economics exam next week, tax is a question on it, if I tried to argue scratch cards were a regressive tax, I'd fail 

Of course, but it is unquestionable that lotteries are created to sell hopes and dreams to those most desperate and the money is then used to plug holes in the economy as a result of government mismanagement, which is then used to give those people a sense of validation and social reward for playing the lottery. It isn't a 'tax' in the strictest sense of the word, but is really just a tax substitute.

The latest advertising for the lottery here is proof of that, showing how the lottery gives money to the NHS and to help the war wounded. It is proof that we need to remove the idea of charity from society, fast!

Done same myself today, some hilarious stories 

Not sure why but people who i work with love death for some reason now sure it's an age thing but when they find someone they know who has died it's a case of yes i know someone .

Look maybe an Irish thing but stay off it Sid try to find things that make you happy about your Dad think positive in a time of pain .

I remember when my Dad died three days later we were sat in his house on a Saturday morning and my Sister said Burnley are playing Leeds today ( Championship ) should we go ? 

Now my Brother in law said if he was alive he would really wanted us to go and he was right and the Clarets won that day and it still makes us laugh ............... Thanks Dad 

I don’t think we run away from it or pretend it doesn’t happen. I think the ceremony and stuff around death in Ireland is actually cathartic and healthy and one of the sad things about the last year is that has been largely denied from people who have lost someone.   It was a huge help to me to have the process of the funeral and having friends and family turn up.  I think we do death well in this country and sadly many people have missed out on that over the last year.   

Replace the community aspect it brought to Irish life.  Far more bad than good in my view but I suppose sport is one way but there is not much else.  

Community is hugely important whether that’s a football club or a book club or a load of auld lads having a pint 2 or 3 times a week.  We are losing it and if one good thing comes from this pandemic is maybe an appreciation of community in its many guises.  I missed the Bohs and Dubs matches when I was away and and still do.  

You are dead right.  Europe does need to come up with community based activities which are not religious or commercially based.  

I know you didn’t like it’s a sin but the sense of community during London in the 80s amongst the gay community is obvious.  

I have said the same about this place to a lesser extent at one point but even that has gone now and it’s largely just strangers arguing online (myself included )