Political Parties

[frogboy4]

Communism is a good theoretical concept (everyone is equal etc) but its implementation has never worked. It just congers images of waiting in line for an hour for a roll of toilet paper.

 

[anathema]

Originally posted by frogboy4
It just congers images of waiting in line for an hour for a roll of toilet paper.

Pops: There's people hopping up and down on one leg out here!

;-)

 

[leliebel]

Originally posted by frogboy4
Communism is a good theoretical concept (everyone is equal etc) but its implementation has never worked. It just congers images of waiting in line for an hour for a roll of toilet paper.

I agree, it only works if everyone participates for 100% and that's unachievable...

 

[frogboy4]

Although, Fraggle Rock was quite the functioning utopian society. Wish we could all be like Muppets. Unfortunately the world just doesn't work that way, but that doesn't mean we can't try and shoot for it.

 

[Cantus Rock]

Well, personally I really don't like the ideals of Communism; specifically, I don't like its idea of equality, especially in this modern world. I think if a person is willing to work 10 times harder than his neighbor, he deserves 10 times more. But, that is just my opinion.

Anyway, I can see the flames rising, so I'll just talk about Sarah Michelle Gellar...um...aint she great?

One thing I will stand firmly behind is my love for my country. I'm not going to get into all my thoughts and whatnot (as I'm sure I've spoken too much already), but other than that stance, much like Kev, I'm just for the advancing of the human race as a whole.

We are the children of tomorrow. I haven't forgotten that.

-Matt

 

[frogboy4]

Well said. The idea that everyone is equal is good, but I don't feel that everyone should be treated the same way. Yes, we all are equal, but we are all different too.

You make some good points, but just to play devil's advocate I must say that no actor or sports figure deserves even a million dollar paycheck IMHO. I'm still a moderate capitalist at heart though.

 

[Cantus Rock]

Originally posted by frogboy4
Well said. The idea that everyone is equal is good, but I don't feel that everyone should be treated the same way. Yes, we all are equal, but we are all different too.

You make some good points, but just to play devil's advocate I must say that no actor or sports figure deserves even a million dollar paycheck IMHO. I'm still a moderate capitalist at heart though.

Thank you buddy-o.

Ya know, entertainment is a screwy thing in that regard. Someone memorizes some lines and puts feeling into 'em, or some guy takes a football into the endzone 70 times, and people pour gold into their pockets. But see, the thing is, they touch such a large number of people, that I don't really see these people as non-deserving. If you check the stats of a Monday Night Football game, they are quite, quite high. Check the latest blockbusters attendance rating, and they too are quite high. Think of it, if you will, in this sense; you are not putting more than a fraction of the price of a movie ticket into the pockets of the exorbinently paid actors and actresses in the film. But, multiply that by the number of people who do the same thing looking for the same entertainment you are looking for, and you get the mind-boggling numbers these stars call bank accounts. So, if this is the form of entertainment people decide to buy into, I don't see anything wrong with actors being paid as much as they are for their stake in the market. Same with athletes; they put their time into something that touches millions of people nation-wide, and I think that if sports fans all over want to be into these people, then they deserve the money they get. To sum it all up; to me its not really about the lack of hard work some people (not saying you Jamie ) think these actors/actresses and athletes are guilty of. Its about them reaching so many people, who really want to see them. Another thing to ponder (I know, I'm rambling) is, if only one person goes to see a film, and the actors only get the 80 cents worth of the ticket price (yes, plus their payment from the studios..but for this instance lets just drop that, y'okay?). Is that better, worse? Think about it, wont you?

And Jamie, as a fellow American, Muppet fan, and as a friend, my advice; LET THAT CAPITOLIST OUT! (hehe)

-Matt

 

[frogboy4]

Actors' salaries are one of the main factors for high-ticket prices. Promise to think of that the next time you note the expense. Movie theaters mark up popcorn and soda or else they'd go brike

Do I really mind that JLo gets paid several million dollars to star in a disposable flick? No. Do I think she deserves it? No. It's not like that money can be placed in the pockets of teachers or other more deserving people, but I still find it a gross discrepancy.

With perspective it just doesn't make sense that Ben Aflec gets paid such a staggering amount but the people teaching our nation's children are barely scraping by.

Of course entertainers deserve a fair share of the profits. Musicians notoriously get a raw deal on record sales. When it comes down to it - Nobody has a job that deserves a million dollars a year, but capitalism works through incentive. I just feel that worth is misplaced. It always will be, so I have no crusade to change that. Just to point out the hypocrisy. Morally, should JLo get paid so much while teachers get paid so little? Absolutely not, but that's how it is and how it will be. That's the negative side of capitalism. There are many other positive aspects.

 

[Gonzo]

Aw, Jamie--very nicely put.

I think my political party is now "Jamieist" or "hippie communist" or something like that.

Course, it helps that I'm entering a teaching program so I can "barely scrape by"...

 

[Fozzie Bear]

I'll join "Jamieism." I agree with every point of his and Matt's for sure.

Like I've said about Muley: I don't have to be rich; I just want to be 'okay' money-wise. But I DO want to be famous. With fame you have a great power to affect millions of people, and if I could do that in a very positive way and be helpful, then I could be happy.