Originally posted by jlillyI think its great that they are making a lot of money. There is a market for what they provide and they are filling it. No one is coercing the fans to pay the ticket price, and no one is coercing the team owners to pay the players those huge amounts. As long as they didn't do anything illegal to obtain their success its none of your business how much money they make. Furthermore, the government is already taking a much larger percentage of their income than any of the burger flippers. I don't see the bad. I think you're just jealous.
It bothers me that they make that much money. Period.
Originally posted by Sleepyguy1) Alright. Nobody is coercing fans to pay those ticket prices. But intelligent people should be aware.
I think its great that they are making a lot of money. There is a market for what they provide and they are filling it. No one is coercing the fans to pay the ticket price, and no one is coercing the team owners to pay the players those huge amounts. As long as they didn't do anything illegal to obtain their success its none of your business how much mo ...[text shortened]... r income than any of the burger flippers. I don't see the bad. I think you're just jealous.
2) Nobody is coercing the team owners to pay players a certain amount? I suggest you concede on that claim.
3) Yes the government is taking a larger % of their income out than the guy who flips burgers. But let me ask you this: Who feels the pain more from those taxes?
4) I'm not jealous. I'm about some relative equality in this world. And I'm sorry, there are teachers and RNs who barely make a living on their salaries ---- bettering human lives ---- while some of these clowns sit on the bench and make $1million ---and those who do throw balls, those who whoop and holler, make millions more.
5) 100% unjust.
Originally posted by spruce112358I find it troubling that De Beers has the power to keep artificial gem quality diamonds off the market for their own profit.
You know the only difference between greed and jealousy? Greed is when you covet what you have. Jealousy is when you covet what you don't have. For every greedy capitalist there is a jealous socialist -- morally speaking there ain't a dime's worth of difference between them!
Players sell their skill as entertainers, for which others are willing to pa ...[text shortened]... mond is worth more more than a piece of gravel, but nobody seems to find that "troubling."
Originally posted by jlillySorry, wait, I don't need you to defend me. I'm a teacher. Let the NBA players make their millions.
1) Alright. Nobody is coercing fans to pay those ticket prices. But intelligent people should be aware.
2) Nobody is coercing the team owners to pay players a certain amount? I suggest you concede on that claim.
3) Yes the government is taking a larger % of their income out than the guy who flips burgers. But let me ask you this: Who feels the pain more ...[text shortened]... those who do throw balls, those who whoop and holler, make millions more.
5) 100% unjust.
Originally posted by jlilly
1) Alright. Nobody is coercing fans to pay those ticket prices. But intelligent people should be aware.
Aware of what? That you are offended? Intelligent people don't care that you are offended about how they spend their own money.
2) Nobody is coercing the team owners to pay players a certain amount? I suggest you concede on that claim.
What happens if they just say no? Do they go to jail? Are they threatened with violence? If they don't want to pay those salaries they can just say no. They may not get the best players, but that is their choice. Its a business decision plain and simple.
3) Yes the government is taking a larger % of their income out than the guy who flips burgers. But let me ask you this: Who feels the pain more from those taxes?
Let's see. One guy has busted his ass to become a world class athlete, continues to bust his ass to maintain the ability to perform at that high level, practices constantly and spends half his time in planes and buses. Its not rocket science, but its not easy either, and very very few people can do what he does. He gets paid well.
The other guy saw a help wanted sign and walked in. His pay sucks. Boo friggin hoo.
I've had far crappier jobs than that. I have bucked hay, worked farms, cleaned toilets, delivered pizzas, worked construction, washed dishes, and climbed around in some very high and dangerous places putting up scaffolding and shoring, all for crap pay. Never once did I feel indignant that the government was not easing my burden by taking someone else's money and giving it to me. I just worked harder, got educated, made more money, and paid my higher share of taxes.
The Great Society has already decided, in the interest of fairness, that the successful hard working NBA star has far less right to his own money than the go getter at Burger King. But its not enough for you, and it never will be until the government has taken the successful guy's house and given it to burger boy.
If the burger flippers are feeling pained at paying the paltry percentage of overall taxes collected from them in this country, perhaps they should get better jobs. I did. Why can't they?
4) I'm not jealous. I'm about some relative equality in this world. And I'm sorry, there are teachers and RNs who barely make a living on their salaries ---- bettering human lives ---- while some of these clowns sit on the bench and make $1million ---and those who do throw balls, those who whoop and holler, make millions more.
Because the teachers and RN's buy the tickets to be entertained by world class athletes. Perhaps they feel it betters their lives to do so. They create the market for the NBA stars, movie stars, successful authors etc. Why do you think so many people have the money to spare on complete non-essentials like NBA games and Hollywood movies? Its sure as heck NOT because they are all poor and downtrodden from being exploited. Gee, here's a shocking thought... Maybe its because so many people are actually enjoying a decent enough standard of living to afford to pay for entertainment!
5) 100% unjust.
Oh baloney. Which people have been forced to do anything against their will? Not the players, not the owners, not the advertisers, and not the fans. You should be glad to live in a society that is prosperous enough to support such a non-necessary industry, and not begrudge those who have been successful the fruits of their own labor.
Its just jealousy shrouded in holier-than-thou smugness. That's all Socialism has ever been.
Originally posted by jlillyMonetary value of anything is relative, not absolute, and determined by what people will pay for it. So the statement, "they are grossly overpaid" is the equivalent of telling other people how to spend their money.
It's about the value of work.
NBA stars are grossly overpaid for what they do for society.
Why is that your business, since it is their money and not yours?
Originally posted by karnachzI usually insist on blood diamonds.
Actually, there's plenty troubling in the diamond industry. For a start, there's the artificial inflation of demand by restricting supply -- but there's also human rights abuses associated with that industry.
Don't buy diamond rings -- you're contributing to human rights abuses.
Originally posted by jlillyYou're looking at this the wrong way. Instead of disparaging athletes and movie stars/celebrities for earning outrageous amounts of money for doing something that adds very little value to our lives, you should just get your own pornographic website, create your own niche by farting on cue or having sex with bugs or something and start raking in the profits.
You make only $15/hour for hard, brutal work? What a shame.
But it's 100% okay for NBA stars to make millions by throwing a ball through a hoop!
And pretty girls and boys on TeeVee make millions too by reciting some lines somebody else wrote.
Enjoy flipping burgers, Worker, the revolution will soon be upon all of us.
Originally posted by uzlessRight on man. And add to that the scarcity of quality labour and it's obvious why there is a pay gap.
Man, while your intent may be in the right place, you really have no idea.
Your typical burger boy flips about 25 burgers an hour so in 2 hours he might provide his service to 50 people. 50.
An NBA player, will provide his services to approx 20,000 people in the audience for a 2 hour game. An additional 1-50 million people on television and radio w ...[text shortened]... his service to 50 million.
Dont' you think his service is worth more than the burger boy?