How do you feel about those that are wealthy? Model, Actor, CEO, Government official, Tycoon, Royalty, and Athlete.
Do you think they deserve their wealth?
No there is no jealous on my part. I just hate hearing people brag about how much money they have when they never worked for it. It was handed to them. When my grandfather was alive he started his own oil business which now belongs to my mom and her brothers. They receive quite a bit of money each month from their business. All they have to do is make sure the wells are still pumping correctly and occasionally fix things that need to be fixed. Other then that all they have to do is sit back and enjoy the wealth. Once they have passed on the business will be then inherited to myself, my siblings, and my cousins. So I know I have an inheritance coming to me that is worth a lot of money but I can guarantee I will not be bragging because I know the only person who can really brag is the man that put all of his blood sweat in tears in the business so that his family will always be taken care of.
Quoting Tanya93:
Quoting Jacqalyn:
Those who worked for it yes they do. Those who had it handed to them on a silver platter and have never had to work for it No. How can a person say they are rich when they are living off their parent hard earned money?
Wow. That so smacks of jealousy. If parents leave their money to them, why don't they deserve it?
I'll have to look for the citations, but 72% of those considered millionaires - those who have a net worth in excess of $1 million, acquired their wealth on their own. In other words, they weren't born to it. Something like 59% of them became millionaires within the last 10 years.
Honestly have to say, I have a problem with the last question, do the wealthy deserve their wealth? The question begs the assumption that someone other than the wealthy have any say in the matter.
Jealousy is an ugly thing and it doesn't bode well for breaking through and making it on your own.
For the record, I was born to what would be considered poverty. My oldest brother and sister quit school to work because of my mom's medical bills. She couldn't work which only doubled the financial stress. For most of his life, my dad worked 2 jobs plus occasional work on the side. He was a good man with little education and did the best he could. Never once did we begrudge those who had a better financial situation.
What my kids and I currently have, my exDH and I earned. It's not that I make the case that we deserve what we have, but rather it's really no one else's business.
If the wealthy didn't break the law to acquire their money, the word "deserve" really doesn't belong in the conversation.
Quoting kam013:
Quoting MissElissa21:
Quoting kam013:
Quoting MissElissa21:
Quoting kam013:
Quoting Not_A_Native:
Quoting kam013:
Quoting yourspecialkid:
Why would they not deserve it? They earned it.
I am not understanding why some wealth/high salaries seem acceptable and other not acceptable.
In my post specifically I mentioned that I think entertainers and athletes are overpaid. I'm not saying they didn't EARN it, they did, based on what we as a society have deemed they are VALUED AT.
I am just saying IMHO for what they do, they are over paid. I mean really some of these athletes are making millions of dollars PER GAME. Do I think that their talent is worth that much in the whole scheme of things? No I do not. I think there are people who do far more important jobs than throwing a football, that are far less valued and shouldn't be. Don't get me wrong I love football, hockey, sports in general. I also love going to see my favorite actors in the movies, so yes in reality I contribute to them being overpaid . . . but I definitely think they are overpaid.
Again, I reiterate, I have absolutely NO ISSUE with people making millions of dollars. I just think the way we place value on specific industries may be skewed.
Athletes also are paid what we're willing to pay. We (general we) have no problem paying $100-$400 a seat or more to watch them play. To sellout crowds. If we all didn't do that, they wouldn't make that money.
I absolutely agree that "WE" as a society have allowed it to happen (which is what I stated in my initial post). We place VALUE on certain industries and therefore they receive the compensation that we are willing to shell out.
And those athletes worked hard to fill that stadium. They spent so much of their time away from family and friends, they push their bodies to the limit during practices and games, they risk serious injury or death to entertain a crowd willing to pay that much for a seat. They get a big chunk of their money from endorsements and wouldn't be able to get that if we did not relate to them or idolize them.
I agree that they work hard, never implied that they didn't . . . . but a million+ per game hard. I honestly don't think so.
Lots of people travel A LOT for work, lots of people take daily risks for their jobs, there are even people out there who work to save other peoples lives that don't make the money these people make for entertainment purposes.
I don't blame them for taking advantage of the opportunities they are afforded, who wouldn't.
Again, I have NO ISSUE with anyone making tons and tons of money. I just disagree with the specific VALUE we place on certain jobs.
Just discussing no argument at all :) I also don't like that we value the entertainment more than the safety. Who wants to pay a $150 speeding ticket when they could spend that money on a football game ticket? Who wants to spend $30 on school supplies the school cannot supply when they could spend it on a night at the movies? Then we complain that we shouldn't have to pay for things the government offers, because we would rather spend it on entertainment.
Well for me this isn't about what the Government offers, versus Entertainment. I mean it's my money and I can spend it where I choose to. The Government really has nothing to do with the point I was trying to make. The Government should not have any sway in what we as a society deem valuable, that should be on us.
Sorry, not trying to be snotty, I guess I'm not quite sure where the Government fits into this conversation.
It's just the complaint I hear a lot that Government officials make too much money and it was part of the original post. And that we value some industries over others like valuing entertainment over school supplies as an example. Or valuing entertainment over healthy food options.
If everyone saw their job this way, I think society would be much better off. The prospect of getting rich I think sometimes gets in the way of happiness. But who am I to say Politics doesn't make Polititians happy. I don't know, I am not one, and that is not one of my life goals.
Quoting ctfirsttimemom:I don't think anyone should get rich working for the government. I think people should be involved in politics because they care about their country and its citizens, not because they can get rich doing it.
Otherwise I don't care. If someone is rich and then gets into politics, whatever. I would never want to be famous and have my privacy invaded constantly. I really don't care if actors, musicians, etc are rich.
I'm sorry if I made you feel that way, I didn't mean to. I am enjoying talking to you about it, and I do agree with you.
Quoting kam013:
Quoting SAHM_12:Yes I do think they deserve their wealth. They worked hard and earned it. So tired of people complaining about wealthy people. I am not wealthy at all . I think people should worry about themselves and not what others make.
Not that you were addressing me specifically, I just feel like some of my posts are being misunderstood.
I am not complaining about wealthy people. I think its great that people have something to strive for. I think overall they contribute to society in every possible way, taxes, business, investments, purchases and charity (just to name a few).
I was only stating that I question the value we place on certain types of industries (specifically entertainment industries) and therefore pay them enormous amounts of money over other industries. I don't begrudge them their millions, good for them for taking advantage of what is available to them.
Quoting survivorinohio:
Quoting MissElissa21:
Quoting survivorinohio:
Quoting MissElissa21:
Quoting kam013:
Quoting Not_A_Native:
Quoting kam013:
Quoting yourspecialkid:
Why would they not deserve it? They earned it.
I am not understanding why some wealth/high salaries seem acceptable and other not acceptable.
In my post specifically I mentioned that I think entertainers and athletes are overpaid. I'm not saying they didn't EARN it, they did, based on what we as a society have deemed they are VALUED AT.
I am just saying IMHO for what they do, they are over paid. I mean really some of these athletes are making millions of dollars PER GAME. Do I think that their talent is worth that much in the whole scheme of things? No I do not. I think there are people who do far more important jobs than throwing a football, that are far less valued and shouldn't be. Don't get me wrong I love football, hockey, sports in general. I also love going to see my favorite actors in the movies, so yes in reality I contribute to them being overpaid . . . but I definitely think they are overpaid.
Again, I reiterate, I have absolutely NO ISSUE with people making millions of dollars. I just think the way we place value on specific industries may be skewed.
Athletes also are paid what we're willing to pay. We (general we) have no problem paying $100-$400 a seat or more to watch them play. To sellout crowds. If we all didn't do that, they wouldn't make that money.
I absolutely agree that "WE" as a society have allowed it to happen (which is what I stated in my initial post). We place VALUE on certain industries and therefore they receive the compensation that we are willing to shell out.
And those athletes worked hard to fill that stadium. They spent so much of their time away from family and friends, they push their bodies to the limit during practices and games, they risk serious injury or death to entertain a crowd willing to pay that much for a seat. They get a big chunk of their money from endorsements and wouldn't be able to get that if we did not relate to them or idolize them.
But it used to be a sport. A game. Team players were loved and loved each other. Today its a business and I am not all together sure its not a rigged business. Football anyhow.
And I will add that loyalty to the fans who largely fund their existance is very low. Ask any Browns fan from the 90s.
True! It is a business and a game, it's more business now it seems, but I think the majority of the players still view it as a game they love. I keep hearing on the radio about a certain Basketball player that has figured out that his sport is a business and he is the supply and the demand and he is trying his best to use it to his advantage. I think he is just taking the opportunity given to him, but he could be using his voice for so much more than just trying to run the place, but that's what he is choosing to do. I also agree that there needs to be more attention given to loyal fans and customers. I see a lot in advertisements giving breaks to those that are new to something. Like first time visitors, new customers, and similar. What about those that have been loyal from the beginning? Those that supported your (obviously general, but I just wanted to make sure it was clear) business when it was just getting off the ground, or supported it when there was not really anything going on to support?
If you are speaking of "King James' he has some to learn about loyalty too lol. A lot of people were very taken with him here, not so much anymore lol.
Lol yes, he does have some loyalty issues, but he sure knows how to work his angle.
And I think so many see America as that, living here or not. What about people that are not American being wealthy here or abroad? Do you still see them in the same light as a wealthy American?
Quoting bookmommy:If they are American and they worked for their wealth, then yes, this country was founded on the "if you work hard your efforts will be rewarded" principle. Once we go down the "he doesn't deserve THAT much money" we are going down a slippery path.
America SHOULD be a place where people can aspire to be wealthy IMHO.
In short your issue is the flashy part of being wealthy. Will you then feel guilt spending the money you inherit? Could you then be judged on the purchases you make?
Note: I am not being mean, or trying to sound pushy, I just have a curious mind :)
Quoting Jacqalyn:No there is no jealous on my part. I just hate hearing people brag about how much money they have when they never worked for it. It was handed to them. When my grandfather was alive he started his own oil business which now belongs to my mom and her brothers. They receive quite a bit of money each month from their business. All they have to do is make sure the wells are still pumping correctly and occasionally fix things that need to be fixed. Other then that all they have to do is sit back and enjoy the wealth. Once they have passed on the business will be then inherited to myself, my siblings, and my cousins. So I know I have an inheritance coming to me that is worth a lot of money but I can guarantee I will not be bragging because I know the only person who can really brag is the man that put all of his blood sweat in tears in the business so that his family will always be taken care of.
Quoting Tanya93:
Quoting Jacqalyn:
Those who worked for it yes they do. Those who had it handed to them on a silver platter and have never had to work for it No. How can a person say they are rich when they are living off their parent hard earned money?
Wow. That so smacks of jealousy. If parents leave their money to them, why don't they deserve it?
The Young Won't Buy ObamaCare
- MissElissa21
on Apr. 25, 2012 at 12:41 AM