HotbearLVR - 2014-09-05 8:56 AM

This thread illustrates the typical mindset of the progressives who are striving to convert this great capitalist society into a socialist utopia.  This kind of thinking is what started the Bolshevik Revolution. 

To the OP: what are you suggesting?  What's your solution?

SKM - 2014-09-05 10:40 AM

 I just love this new term "Income Inequality". Maybe we should talk about work ethic inequality or how about work load inequality? Sorry but there is no such thing as "equal". We are all born into a different set of circumstances. You deal with the life you have and YOU change it if it isn't working. Why should someone that's a slacker with zero work ethic make the same as someone that focuses on the job and gets it done in half the time? If someone can afford a $100,000 horse, then good for them. That isn't my circumstance so we will just have to outrun that $100,000 horse on the little homebred my daughter made. Oh wait...guess we are already there, lol!

Itsme - 2014-09-05 12:29 PM And she makes the same wage as plumbers did in the 90s... Im not here to fight, if you like the direction our country is headed then good for you. I personally think its taking a turn for the worse in all areas...

HotbearLVR - 2014-09-05 11:03 AM

Those wealthy people and those CEOs are what drives the economy in this country to a large extent.  Everyone has the potential opportunity to work hard, be imaginative, take risks, and succeed in this country.  Few actually reach that pinnacle of success, but it is possible.  That's what equality of opportunity in America has to offer, more than any other country on earth.  
Class warfare and envy is an insidious process and we can become consumed by it.....even in something as insignificant as barrel racing (in the grand scheme of things).
 

cpo61 - 2014-09-05 2:24 PM I used the same exact title as Horse & Rider did in their magazine. It always amazes me how people get their pants all in a twist about certain topics. Editorials are for the purpose to get people to think Juli Thorson is right on in her editorial, no matter if a lot of you agree or not. She has been in business a long time and as the editor if H&R magazine she has seen the trends ; the good , the bad and the ugly. I am one that completely agrees with her editorial.

Bibliafarm - 2014-09-05 2:30 PM


 agree!! People that bash the CEOs. .without them the company would NOT be successful therefore your jobs would nor be there ..those CEOs are gone weeks at a time from family to further the business. Those CEOs work long hours. And mentally are exhausted. .the bashing of them gets tiring.

cpo61 - 2014-09-04 5:44 PM In November of 2013  Ms. Juli S Thorson, editor of Horse and Rider Magazine wrote an editorial titled Income Inequality .  It was an excellent editorial that posed some interesting questions and some really interesting facts about wealth and horses.  She asks the questions:  How else will this new level of income inequality play out and affect the horse world, now and years to come?  What evidence are you seeing yet, if any, of the phenomenon at work?  And what do you think it means for you and your horses?
Between 2009 and 2012, income of the top 1 % of Americans grew by 31.4%, yet for the bottom 99% of Americans, income only grew 0.4%.  In 2012, the top 10% of earners ( those earning $114,000 or more) took home more than half  the country's total income. 
I think each and every one of us that attends big barrel races with lots of added money we see income inequality at its best.   It is front and center at every big barrel race in Texas.   I think we can all name at least 20 kids from just the last 10 years whose parents go out and buy horses that cost more that the top 10% of earners mentioned above.
Ms. Thorson also points out in the editorial that the income inequality issue arose many many years ago in the horse show world.  Many show-group rulebooks, to this day, include a dictum that silver show equipment may not be counted over unadorned gear.  This was one of the first things to be decided for the good of the order, way back when Western horse shows were a relatively new activity.  A display of wealth was not to count over demonstration of skill and talent. 
I agree with Ms. Thorson that income inequality is just one of those facts of life from which the horse world isn't immune. 

rodeomom3 - 2014-09-05 3:16 PM Same old song, "they can buy a better horse than me" - it is not just parents who are buying  the high dollar horses, there are plenty adults doing the buying too, do you resent them also??



I know a family that is on a moderate income to say the least, bought their daughter a 2K horse.  This girl had the drive and talent to turn that horse into a winner.  She sold the horse for over 50K, and yes, to a well off family purchasing for their daughter.  That 50K is sending this girl to vet school and paying for what is not covered by her scholarships.  See how having money can work to the benefit of others??  Should the other family not have purchased the horse because not everyone can write a check like that?



Ones level of income will dictate what they can and cannot afford, that is a fact of life,  What is not a fact of life in our country is your income level.  Our country offers may opportunites to change your position in life.  If more people would  take personal resposibility the numbers might change.  When 1/2 the country is on some type of government assistance the question should be not why are the rich getting richer, but why are the poor not working and what can we do to help them achieve more financial independence??  You don't create wealth by taking from others.   I live in the Houston area and jobs are abundant here, if you are not working you do not want to be working.   Achieving economic success does not mean it was done at the expense of others.



 

HotbearLVR - 2014-09-05 10:37 AM


Bingo....there you go!  Spread the wealth.  I think the Obamunists refer to that as "social justice".  For those who deem this approach attractive, I say be careful....you just might get what you asked for.

LMS - 2014-09-05 3:46 PM I think I take offense to your way of thinking in the respect that so many put a CEO on a pedestal, that the CEO is the ONLY one accountable for the success of a company. There are many of us that put our heads down and plow through the days/weeks/months without so much as a glossy smiled thank you!! I'm not saying spread the wealth to everyone, I'm saying award those that contribute to the cause in ways that can be measured. OP I'm sorry you're getting run around on this topic. In life I've found that organizations like to "talk the good talk" but they sure don't "walk the good walk" if you know what I'm saying!!

cpo61 - 2014-09-05 11:26 AM  I think most of y'all need to go back and re-read my original post.    Or go to the Nov 2013 issue of Horse & Rider and read Juli's editorial.     

Yes, there is always an exception that someone can go buy a $500 horse and win , but those are the exceptions, NOT the rule. 

I am a firm believer that if you have the money and want to go pay a ton of money then go for it.    It's in every equine discipline.  I would suggest that some of you go to NCHA or NHRA futurities and you will quickly realize you cannot have a chance unless you have lots of dollars.   

I think Juli's editorial was to get folks thinking about this and to make a point.  Are we eventually headed to the point that only the "wealthy" can compete in equine events.     I think the answer to that might be yes

HotbearLVR - 2014-09-05 4:27 PM OK, point taken.....again I will ask YOU.  What is the solution?  I don't have a dog in this fight, because I'm not a "victim".  I happen to believe that a lot of CEOs are paid a lot because they are considered to be talented at what they do. If YOU possessed a special talent for  managing a company and your hard work, experience, and talent turned a floundering company into a multi-million dollar profitable company, would you turn down a raise from say $300,000 a year to $5 million a year?  

I don't see how things are dramatically different now compared to how they used to be, in the sense that people with more money can generally get the advantage and upper hand because of their wealth.  When has it not been this way?  All I see in this thread for those who agree with the OP is a lot of resentment and envy.  I certainly don't see how the perceived inequities can be solved.  If you think they can, share with us your solution?  



Here's a success story I would like to share to illustrate my point.  Jack Welch was a chemical engineer....smart and hard working.  He started out making about $8,000 a year in 1961.  In 1981 he became the CEO of General Electric.  Over a 20 year span, while he was CEO, revenues increased by 4000%  (yes - that's four THOUSAND).

When he started, the annual revenue was around $20 billion a year, and within 20 years that amount had risen to $120 Billion, by the time he retired.  It was his talent, hard work, leadership, and vision that was probably the driving force behind their massive growth to the point where they became the wealthiest company on earth.  You can say what you want about the man, but you can't argue with his success.  He fired people who didn't perform and when he retired, his severence package was around $500 million.  I would say, considering the company's growth and performance during his tenure, that's the least they could do.  He earned every penny of it, in my opinion.  



Guess what?  Maybe one day someone here will see a son or daughter enjoy the same success.  That's the beauty of America and capitalism.



So....go ahead and complain, but unless you can come up with a solution all it really amounts to is whining.

Itsme - 2014-09-05 4:36 PM So if we dont have a solution to a problem we are whiners? I can tell you the middle east is one giant mess and I nor anyone else for that matter has a solution...OMG, EVERYONE IS A WHINER!!

HotbearLVR - 2014-09-05 5:15 PM


A lot of people have solutions to the middle east problems we are facing.  They may not be the right answer, buy solutions are abundant.  I'm sure you have a few ideas of your own, as do I.

When it comes to "income inequality", I haven't seen any solutions other than income "redistribution".  As far as people "buying success" in the barrel pen or any other equine sport/hobby, I am all ears, but so far I haven't seen any suggestions to this horrible inequity.  

HotbearLVR - 2014-09-05 5:15 PM


A lot of people have solutions to the middle east problems we are facing.  They may not be the right answer, buy solutions are abundant.  I'm sure you have a few ideas of your own, as do I.

When it comes to "income inequality", I haven't seen any solutions other than income "redistribution".  As far as people "buying success" in the barrel pen or any other equine sport/hobby, I am all ears, but so far I haven't seen any suggestions to this horrible inequity.