There is no failure except in no longer trying. There is no defeat except from within, no really insurmountable barrier save our own inherent weakness of purpose. KIN HUBBARD
Money.
What's your first thought when you read that word? Gut reaction is too complex, give it ten seconds and you can flush it out. Money is a symbol of value, a means to an end, paper to exchange for work, wealth to exchange for materials, services, and comforts.
Our collective response to calamity is to contribute money. These days it's as simple as sending a text message or making a PayPal transaction. At the same time, all just causes are in search of donations; Hunger, land devastation, poverty, equal rights, clean water, and every known sickness that plagues mankind. The message as I understand it is simple, the more money directed at a problem, the more time, energy, materials, and manpower are dedicated to its eradication.
Money solves problems.
Baseball is our national pastime, and the only major professional sports league without a cap to regulate the maximum amount spent on players. There are 162 regular season games that span half the calendar year, all televised. On special days throughout the season, the league showcases alternate uniforms, or bright colored accessories to promote awareness of specific afflictions, at the same time encouraging donations towards a cure.
For the time being, baseball has no spending limit. Payrolls have been bolstered to new heights by long term television contracts; players receive yearly contracts larger than any other athletes in America. As always in a Capitalist system, players are paid in proportion to the money they generate. The demand for baseball is such that those responsible for keeping viewership up receive lion's share of the profits, and this makes sense.
Ballplayers are just one group at the top of the pyramid exerting major influence over the masses, while commanding some of the greatest personal fortunes in world history. Humans will always pay for entertainment, indeed it is priority for many. Ironically, most of those generating top dollar in their field of entertainment are doing exactly what they love to do. Big-budget Hollywood filmmaking is another huge example of this. We've all seen telethons and fundraisers hosted by celebrities aiming to bring relief to people in need, but have we embraced the true potential of this method?
Baseball players, like all athletes, are signed to mega-contracts based on past performance on the ball field. The team brass can only keep fingers crossed that prolific statistical numbers of a players past continue through their new contract. This means a man can bring in more than $20 million a year regardless of his production. Moreover, a player can get injured, unable to play at all and still bring in a salary large enough to feed a nation. This year, between 2 players the Anaheim Angels are spending more than a combined $50 million; 1st basemen Albert Pujols, and outfielder Josh Hamilton. This total's more than the entire payrolls of the Miami Marlins and Houston Astros combined. Pujols season was cut short by injury, and Hamilton's second season in Anaheim is just as unimpressive as his first, yet he's one of the highest paid athletes in the world. This example is not to single these players out, simply another strong example of the imbalance of this system.
Millions of dollars spent, very little return.
This situation clearly exposes the misappropriation of funds in our society, at the same time, perhaps brings into focus the greatest fundraising concept of all time.
Most anyone in our society would tell you, no matter how much money we earn, we make enough to live on. Even if a ballplayer desires a lavish life with many luxuries, he can still afford to sacrifice most of his salary towards the common good. Never mind telethons, pink bats, pink gloves, and car dealerships pledging $500 for every home team home run hit. If capital actually has the ability to generate a cure, put your money where your mouth is and show the world what a true fundraiser looks like. If every player in baseball alone, from those making league minimum to those earning $20+ million annually, were to donate half of their salaries, the yield would be incredible. The result would be one of two things, both problems and sickness would begin to dissolve, or the cyclical system of endless donation drives would be exposed for what it truly is.
Talking trillions is usually reserved for costs like our defense budget or national deficit. Imagine a news report revealing a donation totaling more than a trillion dollars. If the major news outlets were allowed to spread such news, if such staggering donations were permitted by the powers that be, the fabric of fundraising would be boosted across the globe. Imagine the trend formed from such an offering, a challenge and benchmark to be met and exceeded by the mega-corporations of this planet. The thoughtless and selfish would be exposed for their non-participation. The men and women composing the corporations of the so-called 1% would be observed on a level playing field and forced to at least acknowledge the global trend. As society starts to understand exactly what type of transformation is taking place, corporate non-involvement in the program would result in either reduced revenue or changes in policy.
Successful new trends in business promote changes across the field. If the people are wise enough to embrace such a healing development, the demand for such corporate action will rise accordingly. Over time, the more charitable a corporation, the greater its profits would become.
Can huge amounts of money truly solve the problems of the world? If so, the solution seems self-evident.
Several trillion dollars should do the trick.
What's your first thought when you read that word? Gut reaction is too complex, give it ten seconds and you can flush it out. Money is a symbol of value, a means to an end, paper to exchange for work, wealth to exchange for materials, services, and comforts.
Our collective response to calamity is to contribute money. These days it's as simple as sending a text message or making a PayPal transaction. At the same time, all just causes are in search of donations; Hunger, land devastation, poverty, equal rights, clean water, and every known sickness that plagues mankind. The message as I understand it is simple, the more money directed at a problem, the more time, energy, materials, and manpower are dedicated to its eradication.
Money solves problems.
Baseball is our national pastime, and the only major professional sports league without a cap to regulate the maximum amount spent on players. There are 162 regular season games that span half the calendar year, all televised. On special days throughout the season, the league showcases alternate uniforms, or bright colored accessories to promote awareness of specific afflictions, at the same time encouraging donations towards a cure.
For the time being, baseball has no spending limit. Payrolls have been bolstered to new heights by long term television contracts; players receive yearly contracts larger than any other athletes in America. As always in a Capitalist system, players are paid in proportion to the money they generate. The demand for baseball is such that those responsible for keeping viewership up receive lion's share of the profits, and this makes sense.
Ballplayers are just one group at the top of the pyramid exerting major influence over the masses, while commanding some of the greatest personal fortunes in world history. Humans will always pay for entertainment, indeed it is priority for many. Ironically, most of those generating top dollar in their field of entertainment are doing exactly what they love to do. Big-budget Hollywood filmmaking is another huge example of this. We've all seen telethons and fundraisers hosted by celebrities aiming to bring relief to people in need, but have we embraced the true potential of this method?
Baseball players, like all athletes, are signed to mega-contracts based on past performance on the ball field. The team brass can only keep fingers crossed that prolific statistical numbers of a players past continue through their new contract. This means a man can bring in more than $20 million a year regardless of his production. Moreover, a player can get injured, unable to play at all and still bring in a salary large enough to feed a nation. This year, between 2 players the Anaheim Angels are spending more than a combined $50 million; 1st basemen Albert Pujols, and outfielder Josh Hamilton. This total's more than the entire payrolls of the Miami Marlins and Houston Astros combined. Pujols season was cut short by injury, and Hamilton's second season in Anaheim is just as unimpressive as his first, yet he's one of the highest paid athletes in the world. This example is not to single these players out, simply another strong example of the imbalance of this system.
Millions of dollars spent, very little return.
This situation clearly exposes the misappropriation of funds in our society, at the same time, perhaps brings into focus the greatest fundraising concept of all time.
Most anyone in our society would tell you, no matter how much money we earn, we make enough to live on. Even if a ballplayer desires a lavish life with many luxuries, he can still afford to sacrifice most of his salary towards the common good. Never mind telethons, pink bats, pink gloves, and car dealerships pledging $500 for every home team home run hit. If capital actually has the ability to generate a cure, put your money where your mouth is and show the world what a true fundraiser looks like. If every player in baseball alone, from those making league minimum to those earning $20+ million annually, were to donate half of their salaries, the yield would be incredible. The result would be one of two things, both problems and sickness would begin to dissolve, or the cyclical system of endless donation drives would be exposed for what it truly is.
Talking trillions is usually reserved for costs like our defense budget or national deficit. Imagine a news report revealing a donation totaling more than a trillion dollars. If the major news outlets were allowed to spread such news, if such staggering donations were permitted by the powers that be, the fabric of fundraising would be boosted across the globe. Imagine the trend formed from such an offering, a challenge and benchmark to be met and exceeded by the mega-corporations of this planet. The thoughtless and selfish would be exposed for their non-participation. The men and women composing the corporations of the so-called 1% would be observed on a level playing field and forced to at least acknowledge the global trend. As society starts to understand exactly what type of transformation is taking place, corporate non-involvement in the program would result in either reduced revenue or changes in policy.
Successful new trends in business promote changes across the field. If the people are wise enough to embrace such a healing development, the demand for such corporate action will rise accordingly. Over time, the more charitable a corporation, the greater its profits would become.
Can huge amounts of money truly solve the problems of the world? If so, the solution seems self-evident.
Several trillion dollars should do the trick.
Money is only a tool. It will take you wherever you wish, but it will not replace you as the driver. AYN RAND
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