What kind of society pays entertainers and athletes more than teachers, doctors, lawmakers and others?

Question

What can be done about it? Should anything be done about it? The average family can't even afford to go see a professional sporting event...

Answer 1

Ours.

Answer 2

The pay is roughly proportional to the number of lives their Job affects. Let's look at some estimated numbers.

1 actor, in a moderately successful movie that takes in 50 million in the US box office alone. Assume that the average movie ticket costs 10 dollars, that is 5 million people who have been affected by this actor (and many other's) work.

Conversely, a teacher may have an average class size of 30 students, and teaches perhaps 10 classes per year. so roughly 300 students per year are affected by the teacher.

Now, let's break the numbers down a little further here. That actor is in a movie that involves roughly 1000 other people, so that actor, as an individual affected only 5000 lives. Or nearly 20 times the salary of a teacher.

so let's assume that a teacher makes roughly 50,000 in a year's time. Based on the number of people affected, this should put the actor's salary at roughly 1,000,000.

Now consider that this is only accounting for the actor making a single movie each year, but I think the numerical reasoning is fairly sound.

Furthermore, one might off-the-bat assume that the actor's and sport's stars do not serve a vital function, and while that may be a debatable point, I am inclined to disagree. The actor's and sport's stars provide people with something larger then life to look up to. They provide countless hours of entertainment, to countless people the world over. They take our minds off of our problems when life throws us lemons, and they give us reason to laugh when we just want to curl up and die.

The teachers provide a vital service as well. They educate young minds, and in some cases old minds as well. They tell us why we are here, how we got where we are, and shape us into who we can be. Without them, we would arguably have no actors. We owe a great deal to our teachers, far more then many people seem to realize.

On to my final point, though. In many cities around the United states, tax levies show up on ballots practically every election. The schools need more money, to take care of vital services like buses, teachers, and facilities for the students. These levies are constantly shot down by voters who could not care less about the teachers, or the students.

So yeah, it sucks, but that's the way it is.

Answer 3

I don't know why entertainers and athletes get paid more. I do not watch TV (no TV service), or go to any sporting events or buy any athele overpriced stuff.

The only thing I do is watch movies at home via Blockbuster minimal rental program. But I don't see how they make money off of that. It's just a couple bucks a month for 4 movies.

Answer 4

Teachers, doctors, and lawmakers have 30+ years to do what they do. An athlete usually only has about a ten year span to do what they do before they are forced to retire. They work just as hard if not harder with specialized skills and they deserve to see rewards from it.

Answer 5

I used to ask that question all the time. They get paid more because their fan base is so large. People don't mind paying to entertainers --what you are doing is fun and by choice. More fans, more money, more salary for the entertainers. Also, athletes and entertainers work hard too--they have hectic schedules, continious physical work, and lots of memorization. They probably are working harder than more teachers I know-but their profession is not as nobel.

Answer 6

It is simple supply and demand. Sure, teachers, doctors, lawmakers and others may work harder but the elite few can be an athlete or entertainer well.

Answer 7

It's very sad isn't it? A city is ready to drop a billion dollars to build a new sports arena and funding is cut in the state for education. I get so frustrated every day. The priorities are so screwed up.

Answer 8

well every time you go to class pay your teacher $75 for admission, or do you not find them that entertaining. Many lawmakers where born w/ plenty of money, so i wouldn't be so concerned about them.

Answer 9

Hmm there you go,,, your thinking.....a better question is why are they more valuable to the society than doctors and teachers.... This is a tuff one but you can do it,,,,, the answer is right there in your head......

Answer 10

Ours.


And I resent lawyers being included with teachers and doctors.

Answer 11

Virtually every society.