Why Is It That The Most Important Jobs Pay So Little?
The United States is enamored with movie stars, models, athletes, musical talents, and entertainers. Those who are successful earn tens, if not hundreds, of millions of dollars to act, walk and smile, hit or throw a ball or tell a joke. I guess it is part of our capitalistic society and free enterprise, which I love; however, it does seem strange that the most important jobs to a country are paid so little in comparison.
For example, our men and women in uniform train to defend our country if there is a war. In war, they stand in harm's way. Some give their lives in service of their nation. Others suffer catastrophic injuries that impact the quality of life for life. Our nation enjoys its freedom because of the blood that has been spilt on battle fields. Freedom is not free.
There is no excuse for our men and women in uniform to struggle in any way financially. Their pay should out-strip any civilian job. No military family should be on food stamps. No military family should have anything less than the best medical care; and that includes returning veterans. Attention is being paid these problems, but it goes back to the saying from the movie Jerry Maguire, "Show Me The Money."
Let's give a stimulus package to our men and women who are performing the most important jobs. We have given hundreds of billions of dollars to bailout failed companies and yet we have only given our troops a 3.9% pay increase according to the National Defense Authorization Act which became effective January 2009. Our priorities are way out-of-whack. It is time for the people of our nation to not only recognize the sacrifices of those in our country's uniforms, but to also pay them the top wages they deserve.
Let's hear it America. Support major pay raises for our men and women in uniform. Write to your elected representatives and ask what can be done to make sure our men and women are paid what they really deserve. One private on the front lines of battle is worth more than a thousand basketball players, don't you think?
