The AMLU's Birmingham Folly

[Justme]

Originally Posted by Carl Childress

Let's levey a 1% tax on that sum, paid for out of the players' salaries. ONE PERCENT would raise $23,260,000. Assuming 220 minor league umpires, that works out to about $106,000 each. Add to that the current MiLB contribution, and you have the funds to maintain a stable of professional (and professionally paid) umpires.

So you want to take the money from MLB players and give it to the minor league umpires? You consider it the job of the MLB players to pay for the training of the umpires? Since you earn money from the sport of baseball maybe you should also pay a 1% tax on your earnings, isn’t that what your logic dictates?

While I support every person’s right to make as much money as they can it still boils down to a few basic things:
1. How important is their job to the industry? This is determined by the industry.
2. What is the supply and demand? Are there 1000’s of people trying for a couple of hundred jobs?

Originally Posted by Carl Childress

You would have the very best umpires. The very best umpires in the minor leagues means the very best players in the major leagues.

This is not a necessary correct. Paying someone more money doesn't make them better employees. If you double the minimum wage would you get your fries faster at the local fastfood joint?

Originally Posted by Carl Childress

Their success should be our success. Shame! For shame!

I guess its shame, shame on me. I don't agree with you that the MLB players owe the umpires a living. I built a business without anyone giving me 1% of their salaries and there were years when I brought home less than these umpires do.

They are apprentices. They are in the minors learning their trade. To my understanding working in the minor leagues is not meant to be the end of a career path, it’s the beginning. Sometimes you have to make sacrifices to reach your goals.

IMHO your plan hints of Socialism.