The Biggest Cancers on Society
Unions, Professional Sports, the Media, Wall Street, and the Public Sector are the biggest cancers on our American society.
1. Unions. Through threats and intimidation they raise their members salaries, perks, and benefits while raising consumer prices because you can bet dollars to donuts that the CEO will not take it out of his salary. The answer is no unions or all unions--take your pick.
2. Professional Sports. Who really pays their enormous salaries? The people do, and not just the viewers (that would be fair) but every family that buys a box of Wheaties. The answer is to shift our mentality away from the super jock and towards local non-profit leagues. The top professional players can still form an exhibition team like the Harlem Globetrotters. You can pay to see their razzle dazzle but for the meat and potatoes, go to a local league and be wowed by local heroes. Your buck fifty entrance fee will go to support the community. (just be careful not to let municipal government get their grimy fingers on the take).
3. The Media. Advertising dollars are ultimately paid by the consumer, and, again, not just the viewer but all consumers. I have no answer here because the producers and media executives are in bed with each other (collectivist people that they are). One idea that has occurred to me is to have micro pay-per-view through the cable providers or through the Internet. If you paid $0.05 for each sitcom you watch, it may just be a win-win for all. The option to watch advertised broadcasts is always available but because there are fewer viewers, the advertisers do not pay nearly as much as they do now.
4. Wall Street. These douche bags--there is no better term--prey on the fallibilities of those not privileged or privy. Why should they have first crack at IPO's? Why should they get to transact before anyone else? The answer is to educate people in the simple fact that Wall Street as it now operates is a zero sum game of the most hideous and perverse kind. Go ahead, save long-term for your retirement. You'll probably get a good return but for every cent you make, someone else loses a cent, but see if you can get the price on the ticker (that only goes to the douche bag that has a seat on the exchange, you'll get less). If they are not willing to equalize the playing field, the government should step in and run its own stock exchange.
5. The Public Sector. If you want to hear stories of abuse of taxpayer money, check out this one of many examples at The Free Enterprise Nation. The answer is to enact legislation that will sever the ties between elected officials and the people they hire. In other words, do not let an elected official hire anyone--centralize it instead at the state level. If it's a state official, centralize it at the federal level. Of course, there will be the appropriate residency requirements.
1. Unions. Through threats and intimidation they raise their members salaries, perks, and benefits while raising consumer prices because you can bet dollars to donuts that the CEO will not take it out of his salary. The answer is no unions or all unions--take your pick.
2. Professional Sports. Who really pays their enormous salaries? The people do, and not just the viewers (that would be fair) but every family that buys a box of Wheaties. The answer is to shift our mentality away from the super jock and towards local non-profit leagues. The top professional players can still form an exhibition team like the Harlem Globetrotters. You can pay to see their razzle dazzle but for the meat and potatoes, go to a local league and be wowed by local heroes. Your buck fifty entrance fee will go to support the community. (just be careful not to let municipal government get their grimy fingers on the take).
3. The Media. Advertising dollars are ultimately paid by the consumer, and, again, not just the viewer but all consumers. I have no answer here because the producers and media executives are in bed with each other (collectivist people that they are). One idea that has occurred to me is to have micro pay-per-view through the cable providers or through the Internet. If you paid $0.05 for each sitcom you watch, it may just be a win-win for all. The option to watch advertised broadcasts is always available but because there are fewer viewers, the advertisers do not pay nearly as much as they do now.
4. Wall Street. These douche bags--there is no better term--prey on the fallibilities of those not privileged or privy. Why should they have first crack at IPO's? Why should they get to transact before anyone else? The answer is to educate people in the simple fact that Wall Street as it now operates is a zero sum game of the most hideous and perverse kind. Go ahead, save long-term for your retirement. You'll probably get a good return but for every cent you make, someone else loses a cent, but see if you can get the price on the ticker (that only goes to the douche bag that has a seat on the exchange, you'll get less). If they are not willing to equalize the playing field, the government should step in and run its own stock exchange.
5. The Public Sector. If you want to hear stories of abuse of taxpayer money, check out this one of many examples at The Free Enterprise Nation. The answer is to enact legislation that will sever the ties between elected officials and the people they hire. In other words, do not let an elected official hire anyone--centralize it instead at the state level. If it's a state official, centralize it at the federal level. Of course, there will be the appropriate residency requirements.
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