What is wrong with this country?

[TurcoLoco]

Teachers, law enforcement employees and fire-fighters, etc. aren't making jack, yet already rich and spoiled pricks like Tiger Woods are going to be getting insane pensions when they retire!!

Sometimes, I feel there is no sense or justice left...

[Heylinder]

he could reach $1 billion in retirement payouts courtesy of the PGA Tour Inc.

Good for him, sucks for everyone else. On the other hand, in order for the professions you mentioned to receive anything close to that taxes would have to be raised big time everywhere. So who is going to lead that charge? I want a billion dollars for when my hubby retires for the third time

[Gizmokid2005]

What isn't wrong with this country? That's our economic system for you. Disgusting I know. If you really want to hit home, look at the pensions of lawmakers, ESPECIALLY the ones who get in trouble with the law...

[knight0334]

Good for Tiger.. he earned it..

As for the teachers, police, etc.. well, yeah some of them aren't paid what they should be. ..some too much, many too little.

[TurcoLoco]

Good for him, sucks for everyone else. On the other hand, in order for the professions you mentioned to receive anything close to that taxes would have to be raised big time everywhere. So who is going to lead that charge? I want a billion dollars for when my hubby retires for the third time

This country and government got lots of $$$ so they really do not need to raise taxes but of course instead of consalidating and revising their expenses, raising the taxes, etc. is the first thing they go after which is another thing that is f'ed up!

Good for Tiger.. he earned it...

Exactly my point, he earned it but I don't believe anyone in his place deserves such pay outs!

I always hated hearing an old guy/woman winning the Super Lotto jackpot back in CA which could be well over 60, 80 even 100 million! One person all that money? Arrgghh, instead when it goes over a certain amount they should carry it over the excess or split it amongst 3+ people to make more sense of it.

Anyhow, I am just sick of seeing a few making this type of ridiculous amount of money from doing something so lame that can not be even considered 'hard work'. This entire world's society sucks in certain ways. May be I am bitter cause I am in between jobs again?

[PhilliePhan]

Exactly my point, he earned it but I don't believe anyone in his place deserves such pay outs!

I think the word "earn" is inappropriate in these cases. I hate reading about how much an athlete/actor, etc... "earned." I do not believe it is humanly possible to "earn" some of these ridiculous salaries.

It is interesting to look at some of these salaries broken down by performance goals ($ per TD or Home Run, etc...).
I do realize that a ton of work goes on behind the scenes to turn these people into superstars, but salaries are waaay out of hand these days.

Don't get me started on CEOs who wreck a company and then get a "golden parachute" on their way out . .. . .

As for the teachers, police, etc.. well, yeah some of them aren't paid what they should be. ..some too much, many too little.

Not only are teachers underpaid and over-stressed, but they often end up spending their own money on school supplies - How ridiculous is that!?
It is right up there with how we treat our military - overworked. Underpaid. Crappy benefits that are constantly being cut.


Ahhh . . .I better stop before I really get ranting - This is TL's rant thread!

http://www.adoptaclassroom.org/index...rivate=&inter=

http://www.donorschoose.org/about/about.html?zone=0

[jholland1964]

I agree, sports saleries...movie stars too...are truly unbelievable and have gotten out of hand for sure, but if some idiot was willing to pay any of us this type of money can any honestly say that they would say, "no just give me minimum wage." I doubt it.
At the same time many of these athletes and stars are making this kind of money, many ARE paying a lot back to help others;
Peyton Manning with his PeyBack Foundation;
Established by Peyton Manning in 1999 is a Public Non-Profit Organization to promote the future success of disadvantaged youth by assisting programs that provide leadership growth and opportunities for children at risk. The Foundation has donated more than $2 million since its inception. Grants are given to organizations actively advancing the welfare of disadvantaged children in Indiana, New Orleans and Tennessee. ALL of the Indianapolis Colts are active with and participate in this charity.
Peyton Manning Children's Hospital at St. Vincent in Indianapolis. Manning has made many visits to meet with young patients at the hospital and participate in holiday parties. His charitable PeyBack Foundation has events such as pizza parties and zoo trips for young patients. The chief executive of St. Vincent Health, said having the 78-bed pediatric hospital carry Manning's name will help the facility raise significantly more money to help expand its reach and mission throughout Indiana. Manning and his wife made a monetary donation to the children's hospital, but they asked that the amount not be disclosed.
His brother, Eli Manning is going to do the same thing in New York.

Jeff Gordon Children's Hospital in Charlotte, NC begun with $1 million donation from NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon.
Yes, these guys names are on these hospitals so they do get some glory from it of course, but as the CEO of the Manning hospital said, having these hospitals carry these names raises their ability to raise more money FOR the hospitals to be able to care for more children.


Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy, founded by Agassi and his wife, Steffi Graff. Located in the heart of Las Vegas' most at-risk neighborhood, AACPA was created specifically to improve skill levels and combat lowered academic expectations while creating a climate of hope among this community's most challenged children.

And yes, the Tiger Woods Foundation, initiates and supports programs that enhance their learning, growth and development.' 'Start Something' is an educational program, focused on at risk kids ages 8 to 17 years, that helps them discover and achieve their dreams and goals. This includes the $25 million Tiger Woods Learning Center which provides youth from diverse backgrounds an interactive enrichment program that will improve individual aptitudes in reading, math, science, language arts and technology. As a result, youth will develop personal accountability, independence and resilience leading to greater knowledge of career options and an increase in college enrollment. TWF also funds and supports youth development, and educational programs and scholarships for disadvantaged youth.

These are just six of these highly paid athletes who DO give back and I am sure there are many more. Maybe this money and time they give is a "drop in the bucket" but each drop helps fill the bucket. I am not defending the money they receive, it IS ridiculous but many, many do give back. That is what is GOOD.
Notice I did NOT mention the Michael Vic Fund for Animals or the O.J. Simpson Slice Your Wife Foundation...but I believe those two are the exception, not the rule.

I thank PP for posting both of those links to help our schools. Our daughter is one of those underpaid teachers in an elementary school where 75% of the students come from low income households. She herself is a single mother with two children who purchased folders, pens, pencils, paper, erasers, pencil bags, crayons, glue and scissors for her entire class of 29 students just so they could begin the school year with new supplies. Last year for Christmas and at the end of the year, purchased a brand new book for each one of her students because many of them had never owned a book of their own. I am very proud to brag that her class, as a whole, scored the highest in the school on all of the required state and national achievement tests, and all scored at end of the year grade level or above.

[knight0334]

Notice I did NOT mention the Michael Vic Fund for Animals or the O.J. Simpson Slice Your Wife Foundation...but I believe those two are the exception, not the rule.

LMAO! Thanks for the morning laugh!

[PhilliePhan]

I thank PP for posting both of those links to help our schools. Our daughter is one of those underpaid teachers in an elementary school where 75% of the students come from low income households. She herself is a single mother with two children who purchased folders, pens, pencils, paper, erasers, pencil bags, crayons, glue and scissors for her entire class of 29 students just so they could begin the school year with new supplies. Last year for Christmas and at the end of the year, purchased a brand new book for each one of her students because many of them had never owned a book of their own. I am very proud to brag that her class, as a whole, scored the highest in the school on all of the required state and national achievement tests, and all scored at end of the year grade level or above.

Good for her!
At least now I think she can get some sort of a tax credit for the monies she has spent out of pocket for her students. Just a drop in the bucket though....

-- Those achievement tests are awful. That unfunded mandate of "No Child Left Behind" is government BS at its worst.
A few years ago I volunteered some time at a poor inner city high school where very little learning was done outside of the few AP classes. They were losing teachers right and left because they had to "teach to the test" and were judged solely on those test results.
Really tough situation - lots of single parent homes + Huuuge population of Somali immigrants who didn't speak English. How are they supposed to fare on gvmt mandated tests??
No Child Left Behind pumps money into schools that test well, rather than those which don't . . . seems counter-intuitive to me.

I will keep listening to Morrissey till I turn gay or commit suicide.

Too funny!

Hang in there, man. It's gotta get better sometime . . . .Right?

[Gizmokid2005]

You are a little bitter, but I completely agree. The wealth should be split more evenly across the economic spectrum.

Honestly, a perfect world would be where the managers/supervisors/ceos, etc work for the peeons not the other way around. Without the peeons nothing would get done...ever. Just about every manager/sup I've had doesn't have the slightest clue about what I do on any given day. If all the peeons of every company quit tomorrow, our country would literally fall apart because nothing would get done.