Am I a socialist?

[Red]

I don't think professional athletes / entertainers / etc. should make as much money as they do when there are people who work their ass off everyday to put food on the table.

Call me Robin Hood, but I think all positions in the U.S. should have a salary cap, say $300,000 or so, enough for a comfortable living, and any money after that should be used to help the sick / needy, or help reduce government debt, help improve our environment / improve technology / make better cars, computers, etc, etc, etc.

You think that $300,000 is not enough motivation for people to try to become professional athletes, or business owners, or Hollywood entertainers? That's ludicrous. If $300,000 doesn't satisfy a person, then they are overly materialistic and greedy.

Lazy people and people who don't want to work hard to get a couple $100,000 per year can make as little as they want because they are lazy, but I don't think a single person should be entitled to more than a $300,000 per year salary.

Am I a socialist?

EDIT: Should I remove myself from our capitalistic society because of my beliefs?

 

[K1052]

Yes. (Needs Poll)


Edit: Yes, as quickly as possible.

 

[Fingolfin269]

Yes.

And add a 'Jealous Socialist' option as well.

 

[GasX]

worse - a democrat

 

[Red]

Originally posted by: Fingolfin269
Yes.

And add a 'Jealous Socialist' option as well.

I am definitely not jealous of the material possessions that a person accumulates in their life. You must hold the goal to accumulate as much material in your life because you think that makes you happy, yes?

 

[DrNoobie]

Originally posted by: Redhotjrm
I don't think professional athletes / entertainers / etc. should make as much money as they do when there are people who work their ass off everyday to put food on the table.

Call me Robin Hood, but I think all positions in the U.S. should have a salary cap, say $300,000 or so, enough for a comfortable living, and any money after that should be used to help the sick / needy, or help reduce government debt, help improve our environment / improve technology / make better cars, computers, etc, etc, etc.

You think that $300,000 is not enough motivation for people to try to become professional athletes, or business owners, or Hollywood entertainers? That's ludicrous. If $300,000 doesn't satisfy a person, then they are overly materialistic and greedy.

Lazy people and people who don't want to work hard to get a couple $100,000 per year can make as little as they want because they are lazy, but I don't think a single person should be entitled to more than a $300,000 per year salary.

Am I a socialist?

I'd say after 12 years of grammar school, 4 years of undergraduate, 4 years of medical school, 3 years of residency, and 2-7 years of specialization (A Total of 25-30 years of education), a doctor is entitled not to have a cap on his/her salary. If people are willing to pay for it, why should we cap it. People like this piss me off. Sure, there are some that don't work hard for that amount of money, but there are many that do. Let them give to charity if they wish, but don't take their money away from them.

Yes, you have socialistic views.

 

[amcdonald]

You are either young, unsuccessful, or both.

Good luck finding any socialists over 25 and with the potential to be filthy rich one day.

 

[PingSpike]

Well, some of your points are valid...but you have to remember entertainers career life is a lot shorter than yours. Assuming they actually MAKE it (most do not) they probably only have a few years to make any money. After that, its all done. 600-900k for 3 years is still pretty good....but spread over a life time?

Athletes are the same way, once most guys hit about 30, its all done. There body just starts to go and they aren't as good anymore. These guys are making money for their whole lives in 10 years or so.

Are they overpaid? Sure. But as long as some one is willing to pay them more, they will get more.

 

[Borracho]

I'm not giving the government anymore of my freaking money!

 

[Fingolfin269]

Originally posted by: Redhotjrm

Originally posted by: Fingolfin269
Yes.

And add a 'Jealous Socialist' option as well.

I am definitely not jealous of the material possessions that a person accumulates in their life. You must hold the goal to accumulate as much material in your life because you think that makes you happy, yes?

I can tell by your pic that you are young so I will forgive you for using such a lame form of argument.

 

[Ameesh]

you're not robin hood, you are a pinko!

 

[HomeBrewerDude]

Topic Title: Am I a socialist?

more like a radical

 

[pukemon]

Essentially yes.

Capitalism has made it this way.

Do you think Ray Romano deserves however million per episode? Does A-Rod deserve however milliion for playing a kid's game? Does Bill Gates deserve the billions he got from gouching software prices on hapless consumers?

Capitalism says "yes" to all of the above. It's the foundation of our society. To screw over as many people as we possibly can in the shortest amount of time whilst reaping as much as we can.

God bless America.

 

[Red]

I'd say after 12 years of grammar school, 4 years of undergraduate, 4 years of medical school, 3 years of residency, and 2-7 years of specialization (A Total of 25-30 years of education), a doctor is entitled not to have a cap on his/her salary. If people are willing to pay for it, why should we cap it. People like this piss me off. Sure, there are some that don't work hard for that amount of money, but there are many that do. Let them give to charity if they wish, but don't take their money away from them.

Yes, you have socialistic views.

That's the whole point of my post. Shouldn't people be wanted to become doctors to help and heal people rather than want to accumulate fake, material happiness? It's been proven over and over again that the richest people in the world still can't reach the happiness of a social worker who sees tangible benefits of helping human life, or people with strong religious beliefs, or anyone who has a job where they can see tangible results of hard work.

 

[amcdonald]

Originally posted by: Redhotjrm

Originally posted by: Fingolfin269
Yes.

And add a 'Jealous Socialist' option as well.

I am definitely not jealous of the material possessions that a person accumulates in their life. You must hold the goal to accumulate as much material in your life because you think that makes you happy, yes?

Here's a secret. Really nice cars and things really will make you happier. temporarily happier, but happier nonetheless. If money is the only thing that makes you happy, you are pathetic as a human being. But at least you have a fast car and whores.

 

[PanzerIV]

I do agree with you half way. I think it's absurd that integral members of society such as firemen, policemen and teachers are always on the low run of the pay scale while a guy who catches a football or dribbles a ball can make incredible amounts of money by contributing nothing to society except entertainment. Therefore we can surmise that in our culture entertainment is more valued than personal safety and education.

I don't agree on the caps, though. A hard working entreprenuer should be able to soar as high as he can and not be limited to a certain amount of income.

 

[Fingolfin269]

Well, a doctor who becomes a doctor just for the money is a completely different problem that wouldn't be solved by reducing his/her maximum pay to $300,000/yr.

 

[Anubis]

sould movie stars and pro athletes make multy millions a year NO FUSKING WAY

should politications make the kind of money they do NO NO NO

shoud doctors make what they do YES YES YES, without them we woudl all be fusked, and they worked damn hard for where they are and dseserve it, and they get sh!t on all the time now adays

EDIT:
and just so you know if you capped the thing at 300K that woudl be 3x as much as my dad currently makes as a doctor, hes a surgron and because of HMOs he has been steadly getting paied less and less for the past 10years

 

[Fingolfin269]

Originally posted by: PanzerIV
I do agree with you half way. I think it's absurd that integral members of society such as firemen, policemen and teachers are always on the low run of the pay scale while a guy who catches a football or dribbles a ball can make incredible amounts of money by contributing nothing to society except entertainment.

If you wanted to become a fireman or a policeman I'm sure you wouldn't have a problem. How about if I asked you to become the quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts next season?

And we can only blame ourselves for entertainers getting paid as much as they do. We're the suckers who buy the product.

 

[K1052]

Would you cap total wealth as well? Including stock holdings, assets, etc..

 

[DrNoobie]

Originally posted by: Redhotjrm

I'd say after 12 years of grammar school, 4 years of undergraduate, 4 years of medical school, 3 years of residency, and 2-7 years of specialization (A Total of 25-30 years of education), a doctor is entitled not to have a cap on his/her salary. If people are willing to pay for it, why should we cap it. People like this piss me off. Sure, there are some that don't work hard for that amount of money, but there are many that do. Let them give to charity if they wish, but don't take their money away from them.

Yes, you have socialistic views.

That's the whole point of my post. Shouldn't people be wanted to become doctors to help and heal people rather than want to accumulate fake, material happiness? It's been proven over and over again that the richest people in the world still can't reach the happiness of a social worker who sees tangible benefits of helping human life, or people with strong religious beliefs, or anyone who has a job where they can see tangible results of hard work.

Average med school graduate has over 100K in debt accumulated while trying to become a doctor. Their first three years they make ~35K, harldy enough to pay it back. They need that money to pay back loans they took out so that they could help people. This is not even mention the insane number of malpractice suits they probably will have to go through. You're right, you shouldn't become a doctor for the money, but the fact is, you need the money to become a doctor.

 

[Red]

Originally posted by: K1052
Would you cap total wealth as well? Including stock holdings, assets, etc..

No, you can do what you want with your money ($300,000 / yr) ... spend it or save it. I think by capping the billion dollar/yr salaries we would also be able to increase the pay of teachers / firemen / police offers and ANY position that doesn't make the money it should.

 

[amcdonald]

Originally posted by: pukemon
Essentially yes.

Capitalism has made it this way.

Do you think Ray Romano deserves however million per episode? Does A-Rod deserve however milliion for playing a kid's game? Does Bill Gates deserve the billions he got from gouching software prices on hapless consumers?

Capitalism says "yes" to all of the above. It's the foundation of our society. To screw over as many people as we possibly can in the shortest amount of time whilst reaping as much as we can.

God bless America.

What are you five years old? Of course those people deserve the money they earn. Its supply and demand!
If there weren't a million retards each week watching everybody loves raymond, he wouldn't be paid his ridiculous salary..
If no one cared about baseball, salary caps wouldn't be an issue.
If no one needed the 9 billion Microsoft products that are brilliantly (and sometimes illegally) marketed, then Bill Gates would just be another geek.

I'm guessing you are bitter because you don't have any money, or you feel guilty for growing up middle-class.

 

[amcdonald]

EDIT: DP

 

[DevilsAdvocate]

Originally posted by: DrNoobie

Originally posted by: Redhotjrm I don't think professional athletes / entertainers / etc. should make as much money as they do when there are people who work their ass off everyday to put food on the table. Call me Robin Hood, but I think all positions in the U.S. should have a salary cap, say $300,000 or so, enough for a comfortable living, and any money after that should be used to help the sick / needy, or help reduce government debt, help improve our environment / improve technology / make better cars, computers, etc, etc, etc. You think that $300,000 is not enough motivation for people to try to become professional athletes, or business owners, or Hollywood entertainers? That's ludicrous. If $300,000 doesn't satisfy a person, then they are overly materialistic and greedy. Lazy people and people who don't want to work hard to get a couple $100,000 per year can make as little as they want because they are lazy, but I don't think a single person should be entitled to more than a $300,000 per year salary. Am I a socialist?

I'd say after 12 years of grammar school, 4 years of undergraduate, 4 years of medical school, 3 years of residency, and 2-7 years of specialization (A Total of 25-30 years of education), a doctor is entitled not to have a cap on his/her salary. If people are willing to pay for it, why should we cap it. People like this piss me off. Sure, there are some that don't work hard for that amount of money, but there are many that do. Let them give to charity if they wish, but don't take their money away from them. Yes, you have socialistic views.

As a lawyer, I take exception to a salary cap. I spent 12 + 4 + 3 years in school, passed the Texas Bar Exam, and I have tremendous personal liability for what I do for my clients. If my liabiliity for what I do (or don't do) is unlimited, why should anyone limit my earning potential?

Socialism robs people of economic initiative to achieve great things, and that ultimately hurts the economy.

Your POV is typical of small minded, jealous, havenots who show up for a job, punch a clock, and wonder why everyone else is making killer bank. They are also the ones who would like to see government even the playing field because they did not have the talent to make it, or did not have the desire to put in the long hours to achieve success.

Here is a concept - go to grad school or pick up a football. Put in hours of time perfecting your art. Become what you are jealous of, and tell me if your income potential should be capped.