Well it is all over the news. The New York Yankees are paying Sabathia $131,000,000 over seven years to be their star pitcher! (Yes the green color is intentional.)
The average family in the United States makes about $50,000 a year!
Starting teachers for K-12 earn less than $34,000 a year!
Starting social workers earn less than$30,000!
An EMT starting salary is under $11.00 per hour!
YES the color red (symbolizing being broke) - is intentional!
Saving lives, helping the disadvantaged, teaching our children . . . We pay these professions pathetically low salaries. In doing so, we make pronouncements on how much we value what they do.
But celebrities who entertain us - now that's a different matter. Whether they are athletes, musicians, movie stars, TV actors . . . we pay top dollar to be entertained!
Sabathia is supposedly a really nice guy. This post is not about him! It is about our culture and what we value. I don't blame a celebrity for taking an outrageously high salary. I blame those who offer such salaries and the culture that approves it.
My rant and rave is this - we value the wrong things. We put our treasure in the wrong places. And we are less of a peope because of it.
And don't even get me started on ridiculously over-priced celebrity salaries when they are terrible role models as well!
Your thoughts please?
Am I missing something?
Brian Rice
Leadership ConneXtions International
