Equal pay for women Topic

MikeT23
Posts: 58012 (0)
Hall of Famer
87 1 47 1 189
Prospect
That's not what I'm arguing at all.   I'm arguing that someone, like the government, will decide one's "value" to society.   We know how they'll **** that up.    You even avoided the question by making up some bullshit about A-Rod refusing to play baseball.

I'll try again.
Who has more value to society?   A-Rod or beer vendor at Yankee Stadium
What is my value, as a small business owner, who neither builds or drives trucks?
10/19/2012 9:54 AM
mchalesarmy
Posts: 1123 (0)
Veteran
20
Prospect
Posted by MikeT23 on 10/19/2012 9:47:00 AM (view original):
Another example(using me this time):

Small business owner, trucking company.    "If you got it, a truck brought it."    I'm obviously one of the most important people on earth.   Except I can't build trucks nor do I drive them.   So, without truck builders and drivers, I'm nobody.    What's my value now?
Right. I understand there are a lot of tough questions involved, but I think many solutions require asking tough questions.

I'd say let society itself determine your value.

Most people would obviously fall in the middle and not be affected much at all.

10/19/2012 9:55 AM
MikeT23
Posts: 58012 (0)
Hall of Famer
87 1 47 1 189
Prospect
Society?  That might be worst than letting the government decide.    Do you know what kind of ratings American Idol and Keeping up with the Kardashians get?
10/19/2012 9:58 AM
mchalesarmy
Posts: 1123 (0)
Veteran
20
Prospect
Posted by MikeT23 on 10/19/2012 9:54:00 AM (view original):
That's not what I'm arguing at all.   I'm arguing that someone, like the government, will decide one's "value" to society.   We know how they'll **** that up.    You even avoided the question by making up some bullshit about A-Rod refusing to play baseball.

I'll try again.
Who has more value to society?   A-Rod or beer vendor at Yankee Stadium
What is my value, as a small business owner, who neither builds or drives trucks?
Sorry, I jumped to that conclusion based on the typical right wing talking point of if we raise taxes on the ultra wealthy they will suddenly stop trying to earn a living.

I don't avoid questions. I sometimes misunderstand, and get sidetracked, but I'll always answer any questions the best I can.

10/19/2012 9:59 AM
mchalesarmy
Posts: 1123 (0)
Veteran
20
Prospect
Posted by MikeT23 on 10/19/2012 9:58:00 AM (view original):
Society?  That might be worst than letting the government decide.    Do you know what kind of ratings American Idol and Keeping up with the Kardashians get?
Yeah that is probably the biggest issue with the whole idea. Society itself is not a smart bunch.

I'll say again that the vast majority of people would fall into the middle and not be affected much if any.

10/19/2012 10:01 AM
MikeT23
Posts: 58012 (0)
Hall of Famer
87 1 47 1 189
Prospect
Well, when you can figure out a good way to determine societal value, get back to me.  I think we can shelve that idea until then.
10/19/2012 10:04 AM
mchalesarmy
Posts: 1123 (0)
Veteran
20
Prospect
For simplicity, what if there were only 3 classes?

You think that you personally could come up with a pretty solid list of those that you'd class as "far more important than most" and "far less important than most"?
10/19/2012 10:11 AM
MikeT23
Posts: 58012 (0)
Hall of Famer
87 1 47 1 189
Prospect
I think you're hitting a lefty talking point.    Rich, middle, poor. 

Going back to A-Rod, his ability creates a lot jobs.   To me, that's important.   Far more important than the guy bringing me a beer.  There's no way in hell I could justify taxing A-Rod 50% and the beer vendor 20%.  

My needs for my business creates jobs.   But not nearly as many as A-Rod.    I can't afford to pay 50%+ in taxes.  

What you're suggesting can't be done.   It's just class warfare prettied up and wrapped in a different package.  
10/19/2012 10:25 AM
mchalesarmy
Posts: 1123 (0)
Veteran
20
Prospect
But "contribution to society" isn't determined by income at all. So I fail to see how you can call it "rich- middle- poor".

As I mentioned a few posts above :

I have a hard time seeing A-Rod's 25 million in the same light as a Business owner's 25 million.
As the business owner had to take risks to build his business and directly employs many workers.

A-Rod's contribution to society is not worth 25M per year. He simply plays a sport that is very lucrative and his value to that particular team is high. Conversely, a police officer is very valuable in most cases, but will never sniff 25M in his lifetime. So clearly the value of one's contribution is not reflected in either case, and I'd have a hard time believing that one's current pay rate is a reflection of much more than how profitable their employer is and their role in that company.

10/19/2012 10:38 AM
seamar_116
Posts: 3653 (0)
Hall of Famer
304
Hall of Famer
People have "value" beyond dollars and cents. For example, the beer vender may be a great dad and husband, coach his kid's LL team, volunteer at the foodbank, help's his kid with his homework, sets a good example, pays his taxes, etc. Let's assume A-rod is a prima donna, all-round schmuck, hangs out with strippers, not a good role model etc. Does the fact that ARod makes a ton of money make him more valuable to society? I say no.


10/19/2012 10:39 AM
MikeT23
Posts: 58012 (0)
Hall of Famer
87 1 47 1 189
Prospect

A-Rod produces jobs.   Beer vendor feeds his family.    Societal value is in the eye of the beholder.

What you could do, rather than attempt to determine "value to society", is give tax breaks to people you deem "worthy".    Cops, teachers, firefighters, healthcare(which would include doctors, nurses, Admin assistants), etc, etc. 

Saying "I'm gonna tax baseball players and reality show women more because they don't bring value" is silly.    Entertainment has value.  Always has, always will.  We could go back to feeding "undesirables" to lions in huge arenas in front of bloodthirsty fans. 

10/19/2012 10:44 AM
mchalesarmy
Posts: 1123 (0)
Veteran
20
Prospect
I'm strictly speaking to the individual's job and how greatly or minimally that career contributes to society in general.
10/19/2012 10:50 AM
MikeT23
Posts: 58012 (0)
Hall of Famer
87 1 47 1 189
Prospect
Contribution to society is in the eye of the beholder.



10/19/2012 10:55 AM
◂ Prev 12
Equal pay for women Topic
△Top△Bottom

Search Criteria

Terms of Use Customer Support Privacy Statement

© 1999-2026 WhatIfSports.com, Inc. All rights reserved. WhatIfSports is a trademark of WhatIfSports.com, Inc. SimLeague, SimMatchup and iSimNow are trademarks or registered trademarks of Electronic Arts, Inc. Used under license. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.