NationStates Jolt Archive

Is it me or is it royally screwed up that athletes get paid more than people who defend the country, cure diseases, rescue people from burning building, protect the streets, and help save lifes.......the only thing that can sum this is up is :headbang:

I think the government should not regulate the salaries of athletes but I do think that emergency workers need to be honored more of heros then the athletes.

Not really. Think about it, the average sports player has a career of five to ten years. In that time, they have to make enough money to either allow them to retire, or to have enough so they can go to school to learn how to do some other job. Most other people can work for 30 or 40 years, so it makes sense. And face it, sports teams can afford to pay the athletes what they do because of people like you and me who buy tickets to see them. Capitalism at work. I'm fine with it.

How many people have the potential to become a brain surgeon? 1 out of 100? 1 out of 1000?

Now think of how many people who have the ability to play in the NBA or another professional athletic organization. 1 out of 10,000, perhaps? 1 out of 100,000?

That's why. Supply and demand. There's a short supply of world-class athletes, and a high demand to watch them perform. Like the previous poster said, it's capitalism at work.

Oh, and by the way, this belongs in "General."