Posted by Ray Kidder on 11/24/2008, 9:39 pm, in reply to "Re: The work of rich athletes"
71.191.60.161
Jim,
You wrote:
"Your willingness to decide that someone else does not do valuable work even though you cannot do that work and would be fired were you hired is a moral issue that I think you should consider."
Are you saying that I claim that the major league baseball players with 7-figure salaries do not do valuable work, and that I am in favor of staling much of their income through a graduated income tax on the basis that their work is not valuable?
Under the graduated income tax system, those who earn extra money still get to keep some of their extra money.
My point about the athletes is that some people earn extra money in the context of their superior talent; not so much their superior effort. In capitalism, some people (e.g. those in exexutive leadership positions, those who gain a large audience, those who have very specialixed abilities) have an ability to earn extra money out of proportion to their work. Being only slightly less talented will bring a large reduction in income. Such people in lower paying jobs still do important and necessary work, but because they can be easily replaced, they have to settle for far less money.
With a major league baseball team, the players attract the most fans, but without grounds maintenance personnel, umpires, ticket sellers, and announcers, the games cannot go on. Those who can be easily replaced have to settle for low pay, while those who greatly contribute to wins get the high pay. How can low pay be equated with low importance?
Ray Kidder
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