I’m usually willing to engage in most conversations, but some conversation just makes no sense to me. One of those conversation is when someone states that public servants such as teachers, police officers and firefighters should be paid more than professional athletes.
I usually turn the channel and go about my business as its a stupid topic and has absolutely no logic behind it.
Let me say, public servants such as teachers, fire fighters, police officers and EMS all have very important jobs. Can’t take that away from any of them and they all should be paid top dollar if they can get it.
Professional athletes careers are far less important than the aforementioned. Period!
But! And that’s a big BUT! Bigger than Coco’s.
First, I think for someone to even make that statement, they have to be a sports fan to understand the stupidity they speak. They don’t have to be fanatical about sports, but they have to at-least understand what sports are about and mean to the average person.
Using the example of a high school teacher to illustrate my point. First let me say that I am not saying that teachers don’t deserve to be paid more – not my point at all. I am of firm belief that teachers do deserve to be top dollar – to a certain extent.
Sounds kind of cruel and selfish huh? But hear me out.
Teachers salaries are usually based on the way the school district is funded by the state. Those funds come from tax payers dollars.
As a tax payer, I’m already screaming at the top of my lungs that my taxes are already high enough. So I ask myself, do I want to pay higher taxes for that school teacher to get a pay raise that’s comparable to a pro athlete.
Hell No! – not if it means me being broke. Yep I said it – no I do not want to pay higher taxes – for any reason, no reason at all. I’m already paying enough taxes as I just made a trip down to the department of revenue to pay taxes on my new car.
Do you? Are you willing to have your taxes increased for the local PD, teachers and firefighters in your community to be paid like pro athletes? I didn’t think so.
I know I am not alone when it comes to you taking money out of your pocket. Everyone shuts up when it comes time for them dig in their pocket and make their lives less comfortable.
Now should pro athletes make the monies they do? Good question, very good question.
To answer it, you will have to look at all of the Pee Wee leagues from soccer to baseball to football. We’ve all seen how parents act at those games when their kid doesn’t get enough playing time – you think they are acting that way because they want their son or daughter to be a teacher. Your a damn fool if you do.
It starts at an early age. Most mothers and fathers want their son or daughter to grow up and be the next MVP of their chosen sport. So they invest money and time in their children to accomplish this far fetched dream. It continues from the Pee Wee Leagues to the high-school level on into the collegiate level and then on to the professional level if the kid is fortunate or good enough.
This is why you see packed stadiums on game day – regardless of the level, pee wee, high-school, collegiate or pro. Ever ask yourself where all those people in the stadiums come from?
When have you ever seen a crowd of 40,000 pack a stadium for a science project or English lesson?
So the next time you hear someone talking about how teachers need to be paid more – ask them if they are willing to pay for it. Ask them if they had a choice to make between a teachers salary increasing or paying for that gymnastics class, which would they choose. Ask them if they can tell their child they can’t afford new cleats because they would like that money to go towards teachers salaries. See what they say.
Athletes salaries are only based on what people are willing to pay. If 50,000 people show up to watch a pro football game and pay $50 a ticket – then guess what, that’s what athletes salaries are based off. If major corporations are willing to invest millions of dollars in sporting venues – then guess what, that’s what athletes salaries are based off.
Why not ask a sports fan who is heading to the game – hey, why don’t save that $50 for a teachers salary – and see the response that you get. Ask a corporation the same thing – if a teacher can bring in 50,000 people to a single day event with a science project – then give that teacher a raise.
For many, sports is escape therapy for life’s ups and downs. It just so happens to be big money involved too. And some can’t understand that andmake awful comparisons with the salaries of public servants. It’s a comparison that can’t be made logically as your comparing a lemon to a lime.
When have you ever heard someone say – “it’s been a long day, I think I am going to grab a beer and watch that science project on ESPN tonight”? No one goes to the high-school cafeteria to grab a carton of milk to wind down after a shitty day.
Public servants know what they are getting involved with financially when they pursue that career path. Most choose those career paths not for the money, but for the duty. So no crying them a river as they are living their dream. Unfortunately, some of those careers don’t come with a fat salary attached.
On the same note, athletes do the same – however, their dream has roads paved out of gold.
Now – I will stand up and graciously give when it comes to a public servants benefits being cut. I am vehemently against that as I don’t think their benefits should be cut after its already agreed upon.
Troy Hudson of the Minnesota Timberwolves released an album entitled “Undrafted”.
