toldailytopic: Are professional athletes overpaid?

[Nick M]

If Bob is willing to pay $x.xx for something, and Fred is willing to accept $x.xx to give up that something... then who are we to step in and tell Bob:

Oh, no, I realize you're willing to pay that much for it, but if Fred isn't willing to take less than that, then we will force you to keep your money instead of buying it.​

And who are we to say to Fred:

Oh, no, Fred... I realize you're willing to give this thing for only that amount of money, but if Bill isn't willing to give more than that, then we will prevent you from selling it. You will have to keep that thing that you want to give to him and go without that money that Bill wants to hand over to you.​

This is a private relationship between two people, and as long as they aren't breaking a legitimate law -- e.g. selling stolen goods, selling something under fraudulent terms -- then no one has the right or authority to step in and tell them both that they can't do it.

Note, this also applies to labor and the minimum wage.

:up:

Matthew 20

He is usuing his parables again about the Kingdom, but still an accurate economic lesson.

 

[Nick M]

What I do mind are the tax write-offs for tickets purchased by businesses. What I do mind are the raised taxes for stadium/arena construction. To me, that is theft.

I agree and disagree with part. It isn't theft if they agree. However, that isn't why we are taxed.

I have no problem with the arena being called "The Pepsi Center". If they want to give $200 million to put their name on it, then it can be built with that money. Yet some complain about the naming of stadiums after a company fronts all that money to have it built.

 

[fool]

I agree with what King Cobra said about the blurring of the public and private with the deals that have to take place for the infrustructure to go in.

 

[nicholsmom]

"By the sweat of your brow you will eat bread."

This prophecy, command, order, as given by the LORD is not difficult to understand. It implies fundamentally that all men and women earn their living. And in order to be just and equitable, it automatically implies a just and fair balance of payment to each and every human being. That is, all should labour more or less equally, according to their abilities, and all should be paid about the same for that labour and effort, in the interests of justice and fairness.

Yowza! You should read your Bible a bit more:

Matthew 20
The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard
"For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard. He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.

"About the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. He told them, 'You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.' So they went.

"He went out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour and did the same thing. About the eleventh hour he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, 'Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?'

" 'Because no one has hired us,' they answered.
"He said to them, 'You also go and work in my vineyard.'

"When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, 'Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.'
"The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a denarius. So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. 'These men who were hired last worked only one hour,' they said, 'and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.'

"But he answered one of them, 'Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn't you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don't I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?'​

This story Jesus told describes a job situation that is anything but "fair and balanced" - rather it shows that you will get paid what your employer agreed to pay. The NFL pays very well indeed - more for Peyton Manning than for the ball boys, but I haven't heard the ball boys complaining about it

The implication is obvious: If some people are paid significantly more than others for the same basic labour,

Are you actually suggesting that professional sports can be likened to any other profession? That the labor is basically the same? :dizzy:

 

[nicholsmom]

I agree with what King Cobra said about the blurring of the public and private with the deals that have to take place for the infrustructure to go in.

It's all local government, close to the people. I thought that the way Indy chose to raise the money for Lucas Oil Stadium was fantastic. Very positive. The local businesses know that they benefit big from the Stadium and are glad to be able to support the Colts by collecting a higher sales tax. The people who want to support the Colts don't mind (too much) paying higher sales taxes in Indy to do so. Those who don't want to pay those higher taxes don't have to drive very far to escape them.

Avoidable taxes are the very best kind to have