http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/archives/2830 A Rare Bird, A Strange Duck, One Funky Blog Tue, 02 Dec 2008 03:38:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/archives/2830#comment-71864 gbm3 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 01:17:06 +0000 http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/?p=2830#comment-71864 <blockquote>I'm not sure what you're getting at, gbm3. -FD</blockquote> I was actually agreeing with you. About the Walmart comparison: Walmart has local gov't's subsidize their building costs and roads (and more). In the long run (actually short term too), the people getting cheap shirts are also getting an extra boost to their taxes on the back-end since city council is paying Walmart for more jobs (or "jobs"?). Who makes out in the end? Walmart shareholders (Walmart is up by the way). gbm3 - I'm not sure what you're getting at, gbm3. -FD
I was actually agreeing with you.

About the Walmart comparison: Walmart has local gov't's subsidize their building costs and roads (and more). In the long run (actually short term too), the people getting cheap shirts are also getting an extra boost to their taxes on the back-end since city council is paying Walmart for more jobs (or "jobs"?). Who makes out in the end? Walmart shareholders (Walmart is up by the way).

gbm3
-]]> http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/archives/2830#comment-71787 Josh Hall Mon, 28 Apr 2008 17:05:15 +0000 http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/?p=2830#comment-71787 I think you're one of the few. Peguins are actually the only local sport I care about at all. I have ALWAYS hated football. Pirates suck. I would be a fan of an NBA team though, I just don't think that our city could support it. http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/archives/2830#comment-71755 Funky Dung Mon, 28 Apr 2008 02:25:44 +0000 http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/?p=2830#comment-71755 I'm not sure what you're getting at, gbm3. I don't think sports teams should be subsidized by governments, at least not when there are more important goods to spend taxes on. If player and owner salaries are really as high as they are because the market will bear it, then let sports teams compete in a free market. Let's stop putting like Pittsburgh deep in debt to pay for stadiums that owners are certainly capable of financing themselves. And if they can't, so what? Are sports teams really that important that governments must save them from going out of business? http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/archives/2830#comment-71751 gbm3 Mon, 28 Apr 2008 00:49:22 +0000 http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/?p=2830#comment-71751 <blockquote>On a side note, professional sports aren't entirely private market commodities because local governments subsidize stadiums and protect teams in ways that they don't protect other businesses.</blockquote> So they're all Walmart stadiums? Shouldn't sports owners be getting players from other countries for lower salaries? With no benefits? gbm3 - On a side note, professional sports aren't entirely private market commodities because local governments subsidize stadiums and protect teams in ways that they don't protect other businesses.

So they're all Walmart stadiums? Shouldn't sports owners be getting players from other countries for lower salaries? With no benefits?

gbm3
-]]> http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/archives/2830#comment-71680 Funky Dung Sat, 26 Apr 2008 17:10:09 +0000 http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/?p=2830#comment-71680 On a side note, professional sports aren't entirely private market commodities because local governments subsidize stadiums and protect teams in ways that they don't protect other businesses. http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/archives/2830#comment-71679 Funky Dung Sat, 26 Apr 2008 17:08:24 +0000 http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/?p=2830#comment-71679 Put more succinctly, I don't think regulation should lower players' salaries. I just think we're morons with screwed up priorities for driving the market value of professional sports so high. http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/archives/2830#comment-71678 Funky Dung Sat, 26 Apr 2008 17:06:51 +0000 http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/?p=2830#comment-71678 Um...I didn't suggest any regulation. I just said they're overpaid. Some executives are overpaid. Sure, the market will bear their salaries. That doesn't mean they're worth what they're paid. It just means fools and their money are soon parted. All my post was saying is that I can no longer get myself excited about watching athletes get paid those salaries. I'm playing my part in the market forces by not contributing to the inflation of players', owners', networks', and advertisers' salaries. By the way, "worth" has multiple meanings. In one sense, it's what the market will bear. In another, it's a metaphysical concept connected to the significance of a product or labor in relation to hierarchies of ideals.
By the way, "worth" has multiple meanings. In one sense, it's what the market will bear. In another, it's a metaphysical concept connected to the significance of a product or labor in relation to hierarchies of ideals.]]> http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/archives/2830#comment-71655 Rob Sat, 26 Apr 2008 05:39:35 +0000 http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/?p=2830#comment-71655 So you're opposed to a free-market economy? Do you think the government should regulate the salaries of the players and the owners get the increase in profits? Or do you think salaries should be held lower, owner profits held lower, and savings passed onto the consumer in a command-style economy? The sports figures are getting paid what the market will bear, which is pretty much the definition of "what they're worth." I have yet to meet a conservative who isn't opposed to governmental interference in the economy who doesn't complain about players' salaries. Cognitive dissonance is such fun. As a liberal, my cognitive dissonance is that if the government does try to do something about the ticket prices, then scalpers will arise and ticket prices will still be what the market bears. Go Pens!
The sports figures are getting paid what the market will bear, which is pretty much the definition of "what they're worth."

I have yet to meet a conservative who isn't opposed to governmental interference in the economy who doesn't complain about players' salaries. Cognitive dissonance is such fun.

As a liberal, my cognitive dissonance is that if the government does try to do something about the ticket prices, then scalpers will arise and ticket prices will still be what the market bears.

Go Pens!]]>