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William P. Davis was correct in his assertion that Major League Baseball players’ salaries are what the market will bear (“ Do athletes deserve the money?“, April 20, 2009). Yet, he took this fact and tried to turn it into sympathy for people who do not make as much money, as if it is wrong. Sure, the MLB payroll could fund MaineCare – does that mean it should?
He is also correct in stating the fact that they have a particular skill set that he, myself and the vast majority of people do not. It is this and many other factors that set the standard for their salaries. If Bill Gates lost $10,000 and it happened to show up to pay for my tuition, he probably wouldn’t notice. This does not mean that is what he should do. The question then arises, “are there people more needy than I who deserve it?’ Just like, “Are there more important things the MLB payroll could pay for than MaineCare?” Sure, there are many more important things to spend it on, just as there are different opinions to decide. That is why we have capitalism and the market. The people’s demand for a product should be the ultimate determining factor, not personal opinions.
Davis stated, “The neurosurgeon deserves that $21 million more; nobody can deny that.” I deny it, and so does the market. That is why Derek Jeter makes what he does. If more people needed neurosurgeons and they were in short supply, just like MLB players are in short supply compared to the overall population, their salaries would inevitably increase due to the forces of the market.
Finally, Davis contradicts himself: “Remember what I said earlier about the salaries being what the market can bear? It’s not even true.” Which one is it? Sports are dependant on advertising, true, but Davis wrote as if that is what drives people to go to the ballpark or watch a game on television. Does he really think coaches should get a pay cut? What do you think drove them to become coaches here at the University of Maine? That’s right. It was the “evil” money.
As Ayn Rand said so eloquently, “Have you ever asked what is the root of money? Money is a tool of exchange, which can’t exist unless there are goods produced and men able to produce them. Money is the material shape of the principle that men who wish to deal with one another must deal by trade and give value for value. Money is not the tool of the moochers, who claim your product by tears, or of the looters, who take it from you by force. Money is made possible only by the men who produce. Is this what you consider evil?” It seems Davis wishes to use force to take money that was honestly earned, and give it to those he finds more deserving.
Andrew Wopat is a forestry student.
