JohnFrim wrote:
Let me give you an example of unfairness that I rage about but have no control over... BIG Sports!!! I have zero interest in sports such as MLB and NFL where players get paid exorbitant salaries for recreation and fun. Every time a pitcher throws the ball he gets 3 months of my salary (I don't really know the figure, but you get my drift). To make matters worse, these big league sports are played in big stadiums that are often supported by government money. The person who lives within an hour's drive can enjoy a day at a game if he is willing to fork out big bucks for a seat, but what about the taxpayer who lives 300 miles away? His tax money goes to support that sport and he gets nothing out of it. One could argue that there are spill-over effects of big sports events via advertising contracts, tourism, retail sales of beer and hot dogs, etc, that might ultimately impact the average person over a large area, but I think that argument is weak. I would prefer not having even a penny of my taxes pay for a stadium that I never visit.
By comparison, Hollywood actors get big money for making movies, but I don't begrudge them their income. Those movies are shown in private theatres all over the country, and millions of people pay a few dollars to see the film; the citizens have a choice to support the movie industry or not.
I say all this to simply show that fairness does not mean everyone gets their way every time on every issue. So when it comes to politics the majority rules and they get their way over the minority. That's just the way it is... and probably should be.
Let me give you an example of unfairness that I ra... (
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I understand that the majority generally gets their way. That is not always the case however. For example when roe v wade came about the country was overwhelmingly opposed to abortion. When measure 8 in California stopped gay marriage a court overturned it. I'm not saying this to start an argument about either issue, only to point out that the majority does not always get their way.
Nor will I disagree with what you have to say about sports stadiums. I love sports but would absolutely agree that the stadiums should not be subsidized. However, the athletes salaries are not paid in any way by tax dollars. Their salaries come from television revenues. In fact in baseball and football both the player contracts specifically state that the players as a group get a set percentage of the television revenue as their collective salaries. So, as far as the athletes go they are in exactly the same category as actors and actresses.
My beef is not that the majority generally get their way. That is just the way it is. My beef is that majority is currently, at least in my state, taking tax dollars from the minority in rural areas to subsidize things like mass transit, in the metropolitan areas. We are paying tax dollars and getting no services. Jefferson warned about the dangers inherent in that and in point of fact that was why the war for independence actually started was taxation without representation. Right now, at least in my state, I am not being represented and they are seriously taking money from the rural areas to give to the metropolitan areas. Majority may well win, but when they start taking from the minority, that is causing a problem. The same problem exists if the democrats get their way and start raising taxes on the wealthy too much. If they do that, the wealthy won't pay the taxes. They will just quit using the money for business purposes, or if necessary will leave the country. Those of us who aren't wealthy don't have the same options, but the same principles apply.
The majority should not be allowed to abuse their power and use it to take from the minority, currently the democratic party is trying to do exactly that and that is wrong and will lead to further civil unrest.
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