Something's got to be a bit out of whack when governments sanction and even sponsor lotteries where the odds of even getting your investment back are worse than

Something's got to be a bit out of whack when governments sanction and even sponsor lotteries where the odds of even getting your investment back are worse than 1:4, and governments make it illegal for masses of people to invest equivalent amounts in startup companies, all in order to protect the people from the possible downside of losing their investment. Reminds me of a bumper sticker: "Don't steal. The government hates competition."