There's Something So Wrong With This Picture

[Fern]

I was on www.newyorktimes.com, scanning the headlines today. One story read, "Clemens agrees to $22 million deal with Astros." Next to that was a story about a mother in Darfur whose son was going to die from penuomonia because she didn't have the $1 bus fare to take her to the hospital.

What's wrong with this picture???

Do you think that highly paid celebrities, sports stars and the like bear a moral responsibility to do something good for the world? I mean, after they buy their 15th sports car, 3rd mansion and take care of all material needs of their extended families, what are they going to with the millions of excess cash? How much gluttony can one enjoy before feeling obligated to help out those who have so very little?

[Ima saver]

The sad thing is you often read about these big stars go bankrupt! They literally blow all the money. I know we all talk about becoming a millionaire some day, but we would be happy with 1 or 2 million and I think we would all be happy to share our money with the less fortunate.

[PRICEPLUS]

Life is intrinsically unfair. It should not be that way but it is so!

[slimcustomer]

The irony is that plenty of poor people have contributed to making Clemens rich by subscribing to DirecTV and cable MLB packages, thereby helping to indirectly pay for his salary. They have already voted on what they consider their priorities to be.

For the record, I don't subscribe to cable or Directv.

[boefixepa]

Try talking to a mother and her showing you her 'pictures' of her children. All five were death picture of her infanct children taken by friends/family, she had no camera. All had died before the age of one. When I managed to ask why, how, she shrugged. They all had gotten sick and she just didn't know how to take care of them....

The world is unfair...yes...it is.

Is there more each of us can do....of course. We simply have to do the best we can within our realm of influence. We can't change the world, but once you are free enough to have surplus to give, you can start to make a difference.

The super rich...yeah sometimes the go bankrupt and we all shake our heads. Others are doing wonders in trying to support agencies that are doing their best to make changes.

I know personally of self made millionaries that are living modestly and doing ALOT to help those less fortunate. I know of one who takes vacations to south america with a program to give old free donated perscription glass to those who need them. They often pay for grandchildren or other family member to accompany them for the experience. What a wonderful example they are to their families. I look to people like them for examples and hope to someday be like them.

[shengmei]

Personally I would probably blow all of my money also if I am depressed like all the celebrities.

There are so much attacks everywhere towards celebrities. Every single day I am bombarded with headlines of who and who are getting a divorce, even though they look happy.

Sometimes I see the same picture photoshopped differently to show a couple being happily married in one magazine and divorcing in another magazine. Sometimes I see pictures photoshopped to change the appearance of the wife to show that the husband is cheating on the wife.

I cannot imagine a marriage that can survive such intense scrutiny. Divorces are expensive and multiple divorces can bankrupt anybody, including celebrities.

[jodi]

I don't know as if I would say there was an inherent moral responsibility, but I would like to see athletes/celebrities use their power and influence to set good examples, be it monetarily or otherwise. I hate the idea that our youth are growing up worshipping some of these guys who abuse drugs or alcohol, cheat on spouses, or just put forth the idea that money is the road to happiness.
I like to hear the stories about people like Bono or Angelina Jolie who use their influence to bring inustices to light and try to help others.

[Fern]

I agree, Jodi. And I would add Ted Turner to that list, altho he is more inclined toward environmental issues rather than poverty.

Shengmei, i don't know if i would call media coverage of celebrities marriages/divorces 'atacks.' I think that intense scrutiny comes with the territory; celebrities want the attention when they have a new movie coming out, but not at other times when it has to do wiht something embarrassing in their personal lives. If you think they don't welcome all that attention, what explains the incredible popularity of American Idol, where teens and young people will do anything to become 'famous.' People idolitize the lifestyle, warts and all.

[shengmei]

I would never want to become a celebrity. There is just too much "power of suggestion". It is quite a strong thing. Sometimes people become a certain way because other people believe they are a certain way.

I really think if the paparizzi would ease on the scrutiny the celebrities would actually have the time and resources to fight world hunger instead of constantly thinking what to say next through their publicists. I think Angelna Jolie has the ability in doing a lot of good because in some countries like Nigeria if she goes there the paparizzi is not allowed into the country.

[The Budget Man]

Originally Posted by Fern

Do you think that highly paid celebrities, sports stars and the like bear a moral responsibility to do something good for the world? I mean, after they buy their 15th sports car, 3rd mansion and take care of all material needs of their extended families, what are they going to with the millions of excess cash? How much gluttony can one enjoy before feeling obligated to help out those who have so very little?

Would we expect a world champion swimmer to be a world champion golfer or an "A list" actor?

I find it very difficult when people expect that a person who is an expert or excels in one field is expected to be an expert in another field.

I think things are mixed up. When we look to celebredies and sports people for anything other than entrtainment we will repeatedly be disappointed.

We need to know what we are responsible for. We need our attitudes to suffering and compassion to be at the front. We can only deal with our attitudes and actions.

Let's stop dumping on others and get on with changing the parts of the world we can.

Enjoy Your Money
The Budget Man

www.PersonalityBudgeting.com
Budgeting that suits

[Broken Arrow]

Originally Posted by jodi

I like to hear the stories about people like Bono or Angelina Jolie who use their influence to bring inustices to light and try to help others.

Hehe. And yet, they have a personal filmographer travel with them, videotaping their adventures every step of the way.

Now, please don't get me wrong. What they are doing is most commendable! And yet, that's just it too. Because of the incredible amount of "positive buzz" this sort of thing generates, public charity work abroad is currently The Thing to do for who's who in Hollywood!

The savvy ones knows that they are a brand that they have to continue to keep promoting. This is just a ridiculous great of doing it.

[Broken Arrow]

Hmm. Much as I hate to say it, I have to agree with The Budget Man here.

I remember Ted Turner donating $1 billion to the UN. He made headlines because that was one of the single biggest donation to... well... anything! At the same time, he was also heavilly criticized because the biggest donation also wasn't necessarily the smartest thing one could have done with that money.

I remember a separate interview with one of the co-founders of Microsoft. Can't believe I forgot his name, but he was trying preserving the Amazon rainforests. In the interview, he said that he could just dump millions into a charity and call it a day, but he realized that that money could easily be squandered in limited projects that would only preserve small part of the rainforest for only a few decades. Instead, I think he started or became a member of a think tank that wanted to figure out a way to preserve the entire rainforest for the next millenia? Something like that.

It turns out that serious charity work requires a lot of brain power and research for lasting long term results. That's what really impressed Warren Buffet about the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation anyway, because of all the research and brain power the Gates are pouring into the foundation, and ultimately swayed him to invest his $30 billion in when Warren's wife died.

Having said that though, I do agree that any kind of charity is still better than all these entertainers wasting their money on personal vanity. From "hot rides" to "sweet cribs"? What a shame.

[asmom]

Take heart, you may be surprised. Many, many celebrities do donate generously and intelligently and that includes sports stars. For example, Warrick Dunn runs a charity that assists single mothers get homes. Dikembe Mutombo is building a hospital in his native country of the Congo. These are just a couple of examples, there are many more.

I also think the fact that these people are so highly paid is a reflection of the values of the society that idolizes them. It is not their fault they are paid so richly. I like Budget Man's advice.

[nanamom]

I think we don't hear about the good done by those who have money because it makes better "news" to hear about the bad stuff. It's like teens, you read about the way they mess up but rarely do you read about the good stuff they do because people like to read bad news it gives them something to complain about.

[Hez]

Personally, I think we're looking to the wrong people if we're turning to celebrities to help with the injustices of the world. Money does not necessarily equal power (although giving money to causes can alleviate some suffering, or bring attention to a problem, it doesn't get to the heart of the problem). I'd rather put pressure on the government and those who have real power over the way the world is run.

I think our culture has become so obsessed with celebrities that we even expect them to solve our problems for us...it's ridiculous! I'm so tired of hearing about celebrities! Arg!

Sorry about the ranting, everyone.

[buzz]

The Roger Clemens Foundation

[buzz]

UK charity pulls out of Darfur after 4 of it's staff were killed.

"According to the charity, the workers were travelling in a convoy of clearly-marked humanitarian vehicles when they were shot."

Link

The people of Darfur are not being slaughtered by rich ballplayers. There is plenty of info about Darfur on the web, it's not hard to find.

[PRICEPLUS]

Much ado! People use their celebrity to bring notice to a cause. Jerry Lewis and his telethon are a great example of celebrity for cause. When it comes to politics or other issues I have no time for celebrities!

[cschin4]

Either WE ALL have moral responsibility to help or not. We should all help based on our means. Waiting for some superstar to write a check is just as bad as them not helping either. If they want to help that is great, but it is their money and their choice. We should focus on what WE can personally do and not worry about what others are doing with their moeny.

[geojen]

Did anyone see the 20/20 last with John Stossel? He had a program about who gives to charity and who doesn't in America. According to an economics professor who has a book coming out about this topic, the working poor are the most likely to give to charity, while rich liberals are least likely. (Note, no political emphasis here I my part, just what the program said).

Rich people had four reasons of why they don't give more to charity: (1) I need to make sure I have enough to retire on (apprently 4 billion dollars might not stretch a person), (2) I need to keep my money to make more money to give away (circular, bogus logic) (3) there are no good charities ( And I don't remember the last one. But it was probably just as lame.