Just Let Me -- G -- Indoctrinate You!

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

It's an NFL Entitlement Thing

Dear America,
"Having been a slave to the influence of opinions early acquired, and distinctions generally received, I am ever inclined not to despise but pity those who are yet in darkness. But to the eye of reason what can be more clear, than that all men have an equal right to happiness? Nature made no other distinction than that of higher or lower degrees of power of mind and body. But what mysterious distribution of character has the craft of statesmen, more fatal than priestcraft, introduced?

According to their doctrine, the offspring of perhaps the lewd embraces of a successful invader, shall, from generation to generation, arrogate the right of lavishing on their pleasures a proportion of the fruits of the earth, more than sufficient to supply the wants of thousands of their fellow-creatures: claim authority to manage them like beasts of burden, and without superior industry, capacity, or virtue, nay, though disgraceful to humanity by their ignorance, intemperance, and brutality, shall be deemed best calculated to frame laws, and to consult for the welfare of society.

Were the talents and virtues, which Heaven has bestowed on men, given merely to make then more obedient drudges, to be sacrificed to the follies and ambition of a few? or, were not the noble gifts so equally dispensed with a divine purpose and law, that they should as nearly as possible be equally exerted, and the blessings of Providence be equally enjoyed by all? Away then, with those absurd systems, which, to gratify the pride of a few, debase the greatest part of our species below the order of men. What an affront to the King of the universe, to maintain that the happiness of a monster, sunk in debauchery and spreading desolation and murder among men, of a Caligula, a Nero, or a Charles, is more precious in his sight than that of millions of his suppliant creatures, who do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with their God! No! in the judgment of Heaven there is no other superiority among men, than a superiority in wisdom and virtue. And can we have a safer model in forming ours?"

 yes. it is the same Sam from yesterday.  why the repeat?  because I like it...and hey, it's my party and I can do what I want to.

The Free Market -- the American/Western/Capitalist system, based purely on the feats of supply and demand, proven principles steeped in generations of bringing to market what the market wants or needs; taking into account, what the market will bear; added to that, what the market -- in equal portion -- naturally elevates, linking the ever abundant supply with a constant demand.

The Free Market -- that which combines, and honors, our inherent talent together with our experiences, education and application; while personal ambition and motivation -- which, again, is in abundant supply and made tangible by the building blocks of our own self-reliance -- buoys our inclinations and intentions...  That is, if we so choose to accept our duty to respond and interact and do our due diligence respective of the burden of such a task, and fully realizing, of course, any prospective benefit is not guaranteed.  ergo, equal opportunity does not make equal outcome.

The whole point of a free market is to let is run free:  unregulated (but not without guidelines, expectations, laws), without manipulation (as in, within the private sector, without force, stipulation, censorship, moratorium, subsidy, of a heavy hand of government), and win or lose  (as in, whether bull or bear, in sickness and in health, for rich or for poor).  TO be totally free, it comes with a pearl of great price.

This is what our founders recognized in the new world.   They knew, as long as we remained good, and virtuous, and law abiding, and compassionate towards our fellow man, and fair, and noble, and honest, yadi yadi yadda, we would not only survive -- we would thrive.  It was all about creating a blessed, rich, environment to grow our own abundance, in every way possible.

And yet, the evolution of such a dynamic has taken it's toll, indeed.

Not only have we lived to see a day when the free market is made a mockery, so misunderstood -- the so called "limited" government we inherited from our founders is now in short supply; it's "un-limitedness" is not only a current day thorn in our side, "but what mysterious distribution of character has the craft of statesmen, more fatal than priestcraft, introduced?"

In a perfect world, this would be our lot: "...or, were not the noble gifts so equally dispensed with a divine purpose and law, that they should as nearly as possible be equally exerted, and the blessings of Providence be equally enjoyed by all?"

Only, scratch that, reverse it: "Were the talents and virtues, which Heaven has bestowed on men, given merely to make then more obedient drudges, to be sacrificed to the follies and ambition of a few? 
 

Sam would be so sad to see us now.



So it is really funny listening to the ways of the free market with regards to football.


Given that floating the subject of slavery and football has been long considered taboo -- with neither the utterance, or the inference,  in the same sentence ever allowed without serious infractions or repercussions-- all of a sudden, and without a two-minute warning, we have reached the age of this very idea being thrown around more than the football, and hardly by the dis-enfranchised:


"We're business-minded, also. It's not just fun and games. A lot of football players, whether it's Sunday or Monday night — we're out there on the field, competing, hitting each other. But people don't see everything else behind it. It's a job for us, too — every day of the week. We're in different states, sometimes thousands of miles away from our families and kids... But how the players look at it … the players are getting robbed. They are. The owners are making so much money off of us to begin with. I don't know that I want to quote myself on that…


...It's modern-day slavery, you know? People kind of laugh at that, but there are people working at regular jobs who get treated the same way, too. With all the money … the owners are trying to get a different percentage, and bring in more money. I understand that; these are business-minded people. Of course this is what they are going to want to do. I understand that; it's how they got to where they are now. But as players, we have to stand our ground and say, 'Hey — without us, there's no football.' There are so many different perspectives from different players, and obviously we're not all on the same page..."

For more on this interview with Adrian Peterson, go to Yahoo! Sports, and see Shutdown Corner, by Doug Ferrar.  And for a free market response, by Ralph Alter, for The American Thinker, (and a guy who happens to love the very same Colts as this girl) go here (it's really good too).

Which came first, the owner -- putting up the expense, the risk (with absolutely NO guarantees -- see also SD Chargers...) possibly building a stadium, or putting together a limited partnership with the city, a board, a group of fellow believers and money guys...piecing together every living breathing detail of making a home team happen...and keeping it going, from day one, with rookies, who MIGHT grow up to be stars one day (see also football in the 60's and 70's)  OR the players (using the term "playa" if the cleat fits)?  huh?  huh?

SO with starting salaries in the hundreds of thousands, with averages hitting the million dollar mark, with benefits, rights, a union to back you up -- advertising deals up the wazoo, if you are just that good at playing the game (and yes, it is a game) -- you, like every other pro-sport athlete, are paid well worth your time and effort....you know, given it's not rocket science, you are not finding the cure for cancer, and you only play 16 games (yes, that being also up in the air at the moment, whatever) -- unless you guys are really good, and make it to the playoff season.

Hey Adrian, it's a free market!  Get out, if you don't like it...pretty sure another guy would be happy to take your place.  Or better yet, start your own team, and be the star if you want to, how about make yourself the mascot while you're at, maybe have your face painted on every jersey.


This football franchise business hasn't always been rolling in the dough, now has it?  Not every team, to this day, rolls in it -- you know, the dough -- like, say, the New England Patriots.  And earth to Adrian, it is a supply and demand and rich guy game right from the start, not simply during four quarters of the game, but day in and day out, and year after year, like a well oiled machine, almost like a business of sorts. 

For isn't that the way for all business?

Honestly.  It takes a team of lawyers to save OJ Simpson's a$$; it takes a team of scientists to invent the next cancer drug, or, scratch that, make that the next steroid as the case may be; it takes a team of journalists, to crank out a waste of a paper like the New York Times; it takes a team of teachers to graduate kids, whether they are smart enough to get into college without an athletic scholarship or not; it takes a team of press secretaries to make a president look good; it takes a team of facebook players to keep facebook running, so that stars like an Adrian Peterson can be 'liked' and admired by all; it takes a team, to create a village, to birth a business, to grow abundance no matter what capacity, no matter what level, no matter what game.

The thing is, somebody steps up with the risk, the investment, the first thought, to make the dream a reality; the dough merges with dreams and even though it may be equal opportunity among friends, neighbors and countrymen, it most certainly is not equal outcome (just ask franchises who fail  -- and not just football...soccer, basketball, baseball, hockey...).  It only takes one owner, maybe a family, to do that -- while, to do it well is a whole nother story, isn't it?  isn't it?

You guys who happen to be playing in the 21st century have it so good.  spare me about this whole cry me a river with slavery.  pul leeze.   But hey,  Adrian, if you so choose to go there, then shouldn't we all consider ourselves a slave to our jobs -- if we're lucky enough to have one, that is?  seriously?  How hard can it be, being  a brand spanking new player for the Indianapolis Colts making 300 grand a year along side Peyton Manning?  Sign me up.

I wonder how long the list of expenses for an average team... needing a fresh supply of doctors, physical therapists, water boys, cheerleaders, Gatorade, transportation, hotel stays, food, INSURANCE, a place to play, security, lights on, grass mowed (weather permitting), seasonal work flow, payroll, ticket sales, website, lawyers, advertising and marketing, college recruitment needing both time and money, oh yeah, and paying the players a pretty decent wage immediately following the snap.

Now admittedly, given my intent was to throw out a general list, simply to fall within the scope and framework of an average blog margin -- it is hardly complete; but suffice it to say, me thinks it is still plenty long enough to sail over the head of the average receiver, if not a certain Minnesota running back, who apparently, doesn't have a clue.

And for you, Mr. Adrian Peterson (a better name for a girl, by the way) -- all you have to do is show up and do what you do best.  Play the game.

Of course, a free market does require it to be a win-win for all parties involved, there is that.  And usually, that part of the equation works itself out without interference from outside parties, legalities, misreads, or misunderstandings.  In a free market, when free to create and build and function and profit properly, all the moving parts operate gladly under a virtual agreement to be fair, honest, and just between all transactions, pertaining to all parties.

But when we say Houston we got a problem, it has nothing to do with outer space, the Oilers (scratch that, make that the Texans), or the pigskin itself -- it has everything to do with how we have evolved in the free market today.  Everywhere and often, the free market is at play.

You know what happens when we cease understanding and respecting and invigorating a true free market to do what it does best?  THIS.  A football lockout; disenfranchised team players; frustrated owners; and fed up fans.   When we stop respecting the principles of the free market, the true nature of supply and demand gets emasculated and reduced to fits of greed, manipulation, stipulation and boycott; we wind up with a big bunch of poor sports, clamoring for their say, side, security all the way around -- turning every posturing advantage into their own monopoly of sorts, calling for exclusive rights over another, slaving away and using every negotiating tool in the playbook.


In a way, what started out as a simple everyday sport, a thing to love to watch, to love to play, to love every which way to Sunday, and again on Monday night, has become a burden to us all.  Somehow, we have all  arrived back to the age of the Neanderthal --  or worse, we have grown to carry the weight of the lockout like a cross, as if, this is what happens when we know not what we do.

Just where is Betty White belting out 'get over it' when you need her?

we've seen it happen time and time again -- within our government, within industry, within education, within the marketplace...and now football!  Corruption leads the day.  it is a sad sad day in America.

Football is no different than our own government, currently running without a budget going on two years now -- unheard of in days of yore; not operating the American franchise within our debt limit -- going above and beyond year after year, operating with deficits now numbering into the trillions of dollars each year.  It cannot go on like this for much longer.  any other business, sports franchise, drug company, newspaper, gets this dynamic.  matter of fact, they are acutely aware of it at all times.   and that is just the truth.

The entitlement era has reached it's fate, having seeped into every facet of our life -- no, scratch that, acting more like a deluge of neon yellow Gatorade splashed down the backside of society.  It's modern day slavery, you know...

we need to wise up and realize we can't have it both ways. it simply doesn't work that way.

we are either free, or we are not;

we open up the free market and live by the free market, or we do not;

we either reap what we sow and sow what we reap, or we do not.

This budding sense of entitlement throughout the land is not free, there is a cost; and with regards to entitlements themselves -- after years of growing as unfunded liabilities, after years where government robs Peter to pay Paul -- they become nothing more than give-a-ways which grow, morph, and fester like an old wound, or an old knee injury, generation after generation.  In order to save them, every entitlement must be reformed and returned to operational solvency in order to save the entitlement itself -- or we will lose it forever.

What can we expect, though, from a nation who places on the pedestal all the benefits of free trade, million dollar earnings, and rookie to national stardom over a span of 16 games and a season or two, along with maybe a trophy and a Super Bowl ring -- especially in an environment where the true labor of being a team player gets lost in the details. But this is the new America, upon this first day of June, in the year of our Lord, two thousand and eleven.

now where are my diamond studs, I got a meeting with the union boss and my attorney in an hour..gotta stick it to the man, you know... can't play without the playas, you know what I'm saying?  ain't nothing but a g thang baby...

yo, red white and blue, let us revel in the free market today...for it is a dying creed.

yes indeed, a jaded G lives on to see another day...can't say I didn't warn you.  just the way the blog bounces sometimes...gonna be here all week...

Make it a Good Day, G


and boy does this girl love her football.  get it together guys so we can get our football freak flag flying again soon... please.  i will even throw in a pretty please with sugar on top.

AND for more on how  Debt is Not a Game, go to the Heritage Foundation here.

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