In order to keep the populus appeased, the Romans offered bread and circus ... food and entertainment. This formula has been applied over and over through the ages ... including here in the United States where food stamps, free school lunchs and a myriad of other government programs are meant to combat hunger. On the entertainment front ... local, state and national governments give all types of incentives to sports teams to soothe their restless rabble ... tax breaks, stadium financial grants, promotional efforts, etc. within limits this is all very understandable.
However, now the circus part of this equation has become a real circus with these Black Lives Matter protests that have morphed into anti-government and anti-Trump silliness. In particular, the NFL and the NBA have become money machines for their respective owners ... yet they are still dining at the government trough. Moreover, these leagues, with their protests and outspoken players, are haughty enough to now bite the hands that feed them. Perhaps ... no, not perhaps ... it is now time to eliminate all favorable local, state and federal fundings and tax breaks to these two plutocratic sports leagues ... at the very least.
Then perhaps the generous financial rewards proffered to their players might be "adjusted" downward to teach them a little humility and patriotism.
2 comments:
I don't know getting humility and patriotism by reducing paydays by 40%, but i agree that the supported/tax free facilities, real estate, and security services for professional sports should be dropped. So too for churches and universities.
I think I have the solution to all this. #1 Ban all College and Professional Football. Since 68% of the players are black men, and black lives matter, this will save many of them from early death (average NFL lifespan is 55 for black linemen) or dribbling dementia. This is far more than the deaths caused by police shootings. #2 These guys will be forced to find useful occupations or go into politics. #3 The empty stadiums can be used for social protests, where people who want to listen can go and sit in the stands and cheer, instead of blocking traffic. Win-win-win.
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