mates,

i was goin' to put this in the "just for fun" part 'o the forums, but after a bit 'o thought, i decided that the NFL be a huge part 'o our culture here in our great land.

when i thinks about the NFL and how the monies and talent be distributed, it all seems to reek 'o socialism to me, aye?

first of all, ye have profit sharin' 'o TV revenues. that means them folks who are in lowly cities with grim media markets end up gettin' monies from the goliaths in markets such as the new york area. this ends up makin' each franchise viable.

then ye have things like the NFL draft. in case any of ye don't know how the NFL draft be workin', here be how it goes; ye get rewarded fer awfulness.
'twas in this way that a horrible franchise in Pittsburgh, the Steelers, got thar mighty quarterback Terry Bradshaw in the 1970 draft. the previous year, them hapless Steelers racked up the sterlin' record of 1-13.

fer all ye who follow the phenomenon that be the NFL, do them socialistic protocols bother ye....or do ye cheer when yer team gets a first round draft and survives due to profit sharin'?

aye?

*bows*

- MeadHallPirate

'The most socalist thing in America is the most American'-Matt Frei

Yep, its socalist and it works damn well dontcha think?

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The NFL : A group of independant businesses contract together to their individual good and of their own accord.

Socialism : A population forced into compliance and dependence by force of law.


yeah, totally the same thing

__________________
Socialism doesn't create a rising tide that lifts all boats. It drains the lake and teaches the boat riders not to help themselves by rowing.

Jesus loves you, allah wants you dead

"Every government interference in the economy consists of giving an unearned benefit, extorted by force, to some men at the expense of others."

Ayn Rand

Humm, repalce it with this;

NFL; A group of independant businesses contract together to their individual good and of their own accord.

The State (Social contract theory); A group of inderpendent people contract together for their individual good and of their own accord

Socal democracy; A group of inderpendent people, having signed up to a social contract, who choose to impliment redistributive policies for their individual good and of there own accord.

Not seeing the problem. or the major difference.

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Super. So, to get around your denial, let's call this 'collectivism', on a more limited scale.

Yay, definitions!

The NFL is a government sanctioned monopoly, and acts like one.

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Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys. ---P. J. O'Rourke

NFL, ALL parties agree to the terms

Nation, some percentage do (maybe) and the contract is subject to change at the whim of those a little more equal than the others.

does that help ?

__________________
Socialism doesn't create a rising tide that lifts all boats. It drains the lake and teaches the boat riders not to help themselves by rowing.

Jesus loves you, allah wants you dead

"Every government interference in the economy consists of giving an unearned benefit, extorted by force, to some men at the expense of others."

Ayn Rand

ArrrrRRR!!

MeadHallPirate,

The NFL revenue sharing system may look like socialism, but consider that the NFL is really a controlling party and can be viewed as a single entity with franchises across the country that have agreed to play by it's rules.

It's really about the overall survivability of the league. Various precursor leagues fell short particularly because some teams could not be sustained. The league thrives on loyalty and consistency.....they just can't have teams dropping out and springing up all the time.

The way I look at it is in a corporate conglomerate sense in that sometimes it is often wise to invest some of the profits from the well performing divisions into the poorer performing, yet vital divisions. It's much more about business than it is about politics or ideology.

__________________

The world could use more Stan Ovshinsky's

I think at that level we call it cronyism.

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"Jesus said: I have cast fire upon the world, and behold I guard it until it is ablaze."
Gospel of Thomas

*laughs heartily and agrees with Daddio*

ahoy mighty Daddio!

me point wasn't really to make a direct, linear connection with socialism and the popular NFL, 'twas more kinda tongue-in-cheek whilst tryin' to make a point at the same time.

the NFL profit shares its biggest source 'o revenue, thar TV contracts. the system protects the weak and financially vulnerable...it doesn't let them teams in bad media markets founder (nor does it accuse them of class envy, or label them "lazy fucks"). it re-distributes the wealth and all 'o them teams prosper by havin' a healthy league that can exist in all sorts 'o markets.

it also doesn't allow the rich and strong to get richer and stronger...nay, the draft allows an even distribution 'o talent by makin' sure the less advantaged to prosper by givin' them the most fearsome talent comin' outta college.

would this not be an example 'o socialist policies at work that benefit all?
(granted, this be happenin' within a closed system, fer the NFL does not revenue share with the NHL).

aye?

*salutes*

- MeadHallPirate

nay !

the stouter ships know that they need the lesser vessels or there IS no NFL. you have to play SOMEbody every week and if its the same other 10-20 teams there would be no TV money.

the strong remain strong as they can buy better players. Of course that does not guarantee success,just opportunity. the draft is a roll of the dice. how often is it that unknowns wind up pro-bowlers while stars languish ?

while the Steelers may not be the largest tV parket, their merchandse business is massive.

I see your point but dont agree. but I've got your next tankard covered for the intresting notion !

__________________
Socialism doesn't create a rising tide that lifts all boats. It drains the lake and teaches the boat riders not to help themselves by rowing.

Jesus loves you, allah wants you dead

"Every government interference in the economy consists of giving an unearned benefit, extorted by force, to some men at the expense of others."

Ayn Rand

yarrr, Daddio, yarrr!

ahh, mate...'tis 'nother point whar you and i will have to have a friendly disagreement, then.

but...i have to note that them steelers may indeed have a mighty market via thar merchandisin' market, but that market was built on thar glory days 'o the 70s and thar more recent return to power. both 'o them eras, i have to note, were built around first round drafts, mr. bradshaw and mr. rothlisberger(sp?).

without a socialist system that allowed them players to be gotten, i'd reckon that the merchandise ye speaks of would fetch far smaller coin.

ahoy!!!!!!!!!

- MeadHallPirate

I cant say i was paying that much attention to thee Steelers pre Bradshaw but i was aware of the Pirates and that was a beloved team and reamin so with little to show for it. and the valley between Bradshaw and roethijnsd... Ben did not show any decline of love.

they love their sports there.


(a schoolhood chum's father was area scout for the Bucs and the Royals.)

__________________
Socialism doesn't create a rising tide that lifts all boats. It drains the lake and teaches the boat riders not to help themselves by rowing.

Jesus loves you, allah wants you dead

"Every government interference in the economy consists of giving an unearned benefit, extorted by force, to some men at the expense of others."

Ayn Rand

It seems your argument hinges on the fact that you like football, but don't like socialism.

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"Jesus said: I have cast fire upon the world, and behold I guard it until it is ablaze."
Gospel of Thomas

Outside the fact that all the rules adopted by the NFL that appear to be socialist in nature were put in place for very capitalist reasons, the biggest difference between the NFL and a socialist government is the fact that everyone who is a part of it and thus affected by the rules is so because they chose to be for some sort of personal benefit, and retain the option to leave the system at any time they wish.

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"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb discussing what's for dinner.
Liberty is a well armed lamb willing to contest the majority decision!" ~ Benjamin Franklin
"Diplomacy is the art of saying Nice Doggie! while you're looking for a rock. ~ Wynn Catlin
"There are no innocent civilians." - Gerneral Curtis Lemay. A.K.A Bombs away Lemay