30% Say Government Should Limit Pay for Athletes and Movie Stars

Originally posted by Hastobemoretolife
It seems that very few people realize that the ones that complain about other peoples salaries are the same people that are enabling them to become so wealthy.

I would almost guarantee that the same people complaining how much somebody makes are the same people that keep reaching into their pockets and keep renting the movies that they make or watching the TV shows that these people are on.

Well, that doesn't account for me. I'm "complaining" and yet I don't support big sports and I rarely watch big Hollywood films. If I feel I have to watch a big mainstream film, or at least a film where most of the budget has gone on casting, then I'll wait until it reaches the bargain bins. As for TV, I don't really watch television where that's actually an issue. The biggest earners we have in Britain, people like Jonathan Ross or 'Ant & Dec', I wouldn't watch if they were broadcasting from my living room.

Originally posted by cautiouslypessimistic
Atlas Shrugged is the republican manifesto of today. Nothing more, nothing less. And really, thats a sad statement on the present state of the republican party.

Well thanks for that review. A star from me.

It speaks volumes and clears up a vexing quandary I have been troubled by for days now. That explains EVERYTHING! Does the book happen to contain any bigoted, self-righteous protagonist characters? Just curious.

Regards.......KK

[edit on 28-3-2009 by kinda kurious]

Originally posted by FlyersFan

Originally posted by sadchild01
Atlas shrugged written by Aynn rand , a nonsencial book , at best

No. It's prophecy.

Please illuminate the non religious.

When a "person of faith" claims that a secular, fictional book is "Prophecy,"
does that make them guilty of: Bearing False Witness, Blasphemy or Worshipping False Prophets? I always get those confused.

What is the retribution for that sin again?

Thanks......KK

[edit on 28-3-2009 by kinda kurious]

reply to post by sadchild01


So much hate to America...

I read in one of your posts we forced these things on you? I think not, last I checked a large majority can stand up and fight for their rights.

Kharma doesn't exist, if it did with all of these hateful posts you've been posting your internet would've went out or your computer would've died.



I tell you what, I'm sure our governments can work an agreement that we don't owe you anything since we've given you so much aide.


[edit on 28-3-2009 by dankanight13]

The mods of this post removed a post I made which alsmost all on this thread read in which I "jokingly" traced an ISP to a accredited mental institution. I later when asked directly said it was not true. There have been far harsher comments made and significantly more inflamatory than mine. Are you seriously going to penalize me for my statement which had no obscene words or inflamatory accusations? Really!

I can accuse the President of the United States of being reptillian but not make a joke which was not inflamatory? WOW!!!!

30% of americans are commies. And probably 90% of those support Obama. And 100% of those support BIG GOVERNMENT.

Listen, if you don't want them making dozens of millions, DON'T BUY A TICKET. Otherwise, piss off.

Mods, please remove last post. I am sensitive and do not like being accused of being a communist. Don't be selective. Remove the post or be a hypocrite.

Originally posted by elston
Mods, please remove last post. I am sensitive and do not like being accused of being a communist. Don't be selective. Remove the post or be a hypocrite.

You're kidding right? If you don't want to be confronted, stay in your house and watch TV. Otherwise, face the world and stop trying to control everyone's opinions and censuring people who don't agree with you. Another communist point for you.

[edit on 28-3-2009 by Vitchilo]

IMO good let the government pay them so they can regulate their pay and make them earn a normal amount, not millions a year.

Your jealous and pathetic. I am almost 20 years old and I make over a million dollars a year (construction industry), but my parents didn't pay for what little college i did, or for my car when i graduated just three years ago, I earned what I have. Do you think I'll let you take, STEAL, what I've EARNED? NO. Money is a measurement of value, and those who have more money are usually those who have done more for society, they've added value to our lives somewhere.. These athletes are playing a sport and people are willing to pay, If anything will make me angry at the government, angry enough to take up arms, it is when they start to steal from my pockets with rediculous taxes. I have more money then other people. because I`ve probably done more, that fact is plain and simple. Why should I be taxed more for producing more for society? All of those billionaires, they've changed the world in huge ways, and although it isn't entirely true in regards to some rich individuals and your morals, most do deserve every dollar that they have.

Originally posted by FlyersFan

Originally posted by sadchild01
frankly , you americans deserve much worser ,

Uh .. you mean 'you americans deserve much worse' ... right?

So what this boils down to is an "I hate America' rant thread.
Perhaps this should be in BTS rants ...

Sadchild .. go read 'ATLAS SHRUGGED' and get back to us. You will see exactly what happens when the government tries to pull things like this. It's all in the book.

edited to add -

Originally posted by elston
stop asking for our aid.

AMEN!!


[edit on 3/28/2009 by FlyersFan]

Atlas Shrugged is one of my favorite books, I also recommend that Sadchild reads The Selfish Gene, and the Capitalists Manifesto by Dr. Andrew Bernstein.

[edit on 29-3-2009 by williell12]

reply to post by ravenshadow13

IMO good let the government pay them so they can regulate their pay and make them earn a normal amount, not millions a year.

And how is this Constitutional?

And what do you consider normal? Do you think everyone has the same idea of "normal" as you do?

If you go to college off of taxpayer money...and you make more than I do...should i get part of your salary?

I want to make a normal amount as well. You shouldn't be allowed to make more than me even if you have more education.

You do realize this is the hole u are putting yourself in right?

I think they should put a cap on athletes salaries. If a team like the yankees has to pay for an expensive team then that leads to rise in admission costs, parking and beverage items. If you put a cap on how much you can pay an athlete then these things would be at a price where it is more reasonable.

I don't think the government should do it. That should be left to the NFL, MLB and NBA commissioners. But the government should get with those commissioners and work with them on a price cap. Like they did with drug testing.

Movie stars is a little differant. The ones making the huge money like Julia Roberts who makes about 30 million a movie usually makes 1 movie every 5 years or so. The rest makes a significant less amount and only make a movie every couple of years. So while they make alot of money per movie, most are actually making less then most pro NBA, NFL and MLB athletes.

Well, heck, I don't produce anything either ... but I make more money than a lot of factory workers. You see, I sell stuff that people want, that people are still paying good money for. I'd hate for the government, or the people come tell me that I am getting paid too much for my "work", since I'm not really making anything.

It's not the place of the government to restrict the money made by entertainers. Besides, if we limit their income, who's going to get all the cash we pay them? The team owners? The producers? That sounds like a horrible idea to me. Let the market dictate how much these entertainers make. Until we stop paying hundreds of dollars to watch them, they have every right to make what they make.

Originally posted by aravoth
reply to post by Make Speed Limit 45

 

If you don't like what they make then stop paying them. Cancel TV, don't go to the movies and boycott the Superbowl.

You don't need TV, and you don't need Nike's.

I bet you have some nice stuff. I bet I could use some of it. I'm going to come and take your stuff because it's nicer than mine. But I want you to keep being productive and working hard, that way I can have more nice stuff at your expense.

You see. I am a lazy, fat, arrogant pile of useless trash. Everyone owes me something. And they especially owe me the the fruits of thier labor. I'm too stupid to figure out how to be productive because the school system I was taught in didn't have the resources to make me smart. That is the fault of greedy people that don't care about fat, lazy, arrogant piles of useless trash like me.

In a short while, the people I voted for will send some other people to your house. And they will take your nice things and bring them to me. Because their are millions of fat, lazy, arrogant piles of trash like me all over the country, and we are a huge voting block.

I am not smart enough, determined enough, or strong enough to make my own life better. But you are smart, determined, and strong enough for the two of us. So I will sit my giant, fat, lazy, arrogant ass on your shoulders, and you will carry my giant, fat, lazy, arrogant ass for the rest of your life.

You get it? You may produce everything, you may be the sole creator of jobs and wealth, you may think you are pretty smart when you invent something groundbreaking that changes the world forever and saves a million lives, but I did one better.............

I stole it all from you......because I am.....a giant, fat, lazy, arrogant ###hole. Now get back to work, you need to buy me a TV so I don't miss dancing with the stars.

[edit on 28-3-2009 by aravoth]

Well said !

MemoryShock, own up to a bad call. Seriously it's okay but own up to it. Look at the last couple of posts and reconsider mine. I will wait then make a thread regarding this incident.

Originally posted by Merriman Weir

Originally posted by elston
This is largely related to jealousy.

Really? That old chestnut?

How about the fact that we live in a culture that celebrates the most ridiculous things like a pair of tits or a nice face? Which is more what most movie stars are about rather than acting ability.

As for athletes, yes a lot of the are good at what they do, but quite often what they do isn't that good - or at least it's good enough to justify their pay. Footballers (that's soccer players to North Americans) are paid a fantastically ridiculous amount of money. Now whilst I appreciate it's a bit more than just 'kicking a ball around', it no way on earth warrants what they get paid to do what they do.

What does it say about our world when even a mediocre footballers weekly wage is more than the yearly wage of a couple of nurses working in Accident & Emergency?

It sure doesn't mean that government should set wages. As for your "mediocre footballers", I bet they could do the nursing jobs with the appropriate training; however, your nurses will never become "mediocre footballers".

Something else to consider is length of career. How long can you be a nurse? How long can you be a "footballer"?

Really, what business is it of yours how much money a private company wants to pay an employee?

Compared to the average human being on this planet most of us who have the ability to post in this forum are probably considered pretty rich by most humans - even the ones like me who is currently broke because of medical bills.

So, those of you who believe our salaries should be equalized than you'd no doubt have to include all the other human beings on this planet - which means most of us would have to take an extreme pay cut as some people make less in a month (some a year) than many of us spend every day.

The idea of limiting peoples pay is a bunch of BS and would never work.

Our world (your life) is a game and while some are certainly born lucky or genetically gifted, the fact is we all have choices and some of us make the right ones, some are lucky and some are just dead wrong.

My grandfather immigrated to the U.S. as a boy with nothing but the clothes on his back and made a pretty good life for himself.

My father was the first in his family to go to college and he went from a kid who had to go to bed sometimes hungry to a wealthy enough person who travels the world as he likes and while not super rich as in celebrities he has more than he ever wanted.

We all basically get what we deserve or what we strive for- if you don't like your pay or position - then get off your rear, quit watching TV, Movies, & sports where others make the money and do something about it before you can't.

I'll never understand why some people are so jealous that they're more interested in knocking other people down rather than bringing themselves up or just being happy with who they are and not pry into other peoples lives.




[edit on 29-3-2009 by verylowfrequency]

Originally posted by Make Speed Limit 45
Damn right. Athletes and film stars are useless parasites who don't produce anything.

I guess you'd prefer communism/socialism over a free market eh? You have to take the good with the bad, no such thing as utopia.

What many of you are saying is no one should make over 1 million a year.

OK lets limit all lottery winnings to 1 million.

lottery winners did absolutely nothing to deserve over 1 million.
all the did was buy a $1 dollar ticket,

give the rest of the lottery money to the government to help pay off taxes.

reply to post by aravoth


ROFL! You are one damned funny individual.

I definitely agree that the salaries of the elite in these areas seem ridiculously high. I don't want to admit it, but I do think a lot of it does come down to jealousy.
- I AM jealous that these people see $100k annual salaries the way I do $30k salaries.
- I AM jealous that these people are more than financially secure for the rest of their lives
- I AM jealous that these people can make SUCH great sums of money from doing the things they love

However, the stadiums that are build, salaries that are paid, loans that are given for these elite sports people and entertainers should not depend on my tax dollars. An example: The Grand Prix is an event that generates money for a few elites but is almost entirely funded by the taxpayer. Almost every year it had resulted in a loss to taxpayers. So are these motorists really deserving of the salaries they are offered to come out here and perform? Perhaps not.

[edit on 29/3/2009 by Dark Ghost]