Last week, we discussed our American culture, and what seems to be valued in our society today. Many people agreed that celebrities are more valued. Take professional athletes, for example. Professional athletes are among the highest paid people in the United States. In a country where money and status mean a lot, what does this say about our values? According to the
“Top 20 highest paid athletes” article in Forbes Magazine’s June 2009 issue, Tiger Woods is the highest paid athlete of the world (as of 2009), with a annual income of $110 million. Compare that to firefighters, for example. The
average income for that career is under $60,000 a year. While obviously not all athletes are paid as much as Tiger, most, if not all, professional athletes do get paid more than a firefighter. A firefighter saves peoples lives. Athletes make peoples lives more interesting. What do these salaries say about our values? Is it morally right to pay a sports star more than someone whose job is to help others?
Last week, we discussed our American culture, and what seems to be valued in our society today. Many people agreed that celebrities are more valued. Take professional athletes, for example. Professional athletes are among the highest paid people in the United States. In a country where money and status mean a lot, what does this say about our values? According to the “Top 20 highest paid athletes” article in Forbes Magazine’s June 2009 issue, Tiger Woods is the highest paid athlete of the world (as of 2009), with a annual income of $110 million. Compare that to firefighters, for example. The average income for that career is under $60,000 a year. While obviously not all athletes are paid as much as Tiger, most, if not all, professional athletes do get paid more than a firefighter. A firefighter saves peoples lives. Athletes make peoples lives more interesting. What do these salaries say about our values? Is it morally right to pay a sports star more than someone whose job is to help others?
Brooks that's a really interesting way to put it. I never would have thought of comparing the two careers. We kind of talked about how a teacher makes way less than an athlete, and how teachers represent the future of society. In places like China, teachers have some of the highest salaries. But comparing fire fighters to athletes is brilliant. Entertainment vs. security. I don't know if somebody could argue that a person values being entertained over having their life saved, but I think that maybe people shouldn't complain so much about paying taxes because that is what keeps us safe. Some of the tax money goes to keeping the government functioning, but also to people like fire fighters and police men. Maybe it's worth it to pay an extra few hundred dollars for taxes instead of sitting court-side at a professional basketball game...
ReplyDeletei still don't get it. i am actually supporting pro athletes and i just want a reason or any info of pro athletes getting paid more
DeleteExcellent Writing. Now add to that fact that most Firefighters in this country are Volunteer, which means that your average professional athlete makes 100% more money each year then those Firefighters. We are lucky that their are those who take on the challenge.
ReplyDeleteI personally am a Paid On Call Firefighter. I have a full time career outside of the Fire Service. My average annual income from Firefighting is appropriately $4,000 - $5,000.
Tiger is still making much more then I...
Yeah, I think that ur right. Do u have more evidence?
ReplyDeletetiger is making more money than u, and u are saving lives,but you've got to say tiger does make peoples lives interesting. also can u give me evidence too.
ReplyDeleteTo be blunt and to the point I honestly think that fire fighters and military service personnel should in fact get more of a the millions of dollars just because of type of job they have now a basketball player why in the hell are they making millions of dollars just by bouncing a Dam ball across a Dam court yard it's really stupid knowing his life is not in danger he's not going into a war zone or a burning building no his worthless ass is playing with a Dam ball and making money he doesn't need millions of dollars it's our police officers and military service personnel and firefighters who need that money not some poor excuse for a man playing with the Dam basketball
ReplyDeleteWow i can say that this is another great article as expected of this blog.Bookmarked this site.. תקן גילוי עשן
ReplyDelete