Not everyone can be famous and rich like Taylor Swift. But all of us can learn to be happy | Opinion
People have a right to spend their money however they want. But is it wise and good to dump money into the laps of rich people? The ultra-wealthy are, of course, free to gather the bucks we throw their way. But consumers could make different choices.
Consider the power duo of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce. Swift is currently worth over $1 billion dollars. Kelce has a net worth of more than $30 million. His current four-year contract is worth more than $50 million. And his brand, like Swift’s, is on the rise.
The tickets to see these folks are outrageously expensive. CNBC reports that the average ticket price for Swift’s recent concert tour was $1,088. CNN states the average cost of a Super Bowl ticket at $9,850. The New York Times reported that over 1,000 private jets will fly to Las Vegas for the game. The Internet is a-twitter with speculation about whether one of those jets will swoop in from Tokyo with Taylor Swift aboard.
The ultra-wealthy spend lavishly, while some people sleep on sidewalks under tarps. It’s sad and embarrassing.
I’m not opposed to people making a decent living. I like live music. Musicians need to make a living. I grew up playing football. It’s fun. The players deserve to be paid well. But where’s the limit? How much is too much? And at what point does all of this excess reflect poorly on the fans, the players, and society as a whole?
Money-grubbing undermines the experience of art and sports. Are Swift’s biggest fans able to see her without going into debt? Or is the show really for a bunch of rich, middle-aged people who are casual fans, at best?
Consider what happened to those old hippies from the Grateful Dead who recently announced a “Dead and Company” stand at Las Vegas’s Sphere stadium. Tickets start at $150 and go up to $400. A VIP experience including hotel is available for around $1,600 per night. These guys used to play for free on the streets of San Francisco. Their loyal fans sold veggie burritos to make gas money for their beat-up VW vans. Those fans have been priced out.
Of course, capitalism works according to the laws of supply and demand. If you’ve got a commodity that lots of people want, you can jack up the price. And frankly all of this — football and concert tickets — is a matter of luxury goods. Rich people are willing to pay big bucks for stuff they don’t need. So, the prices keep rising.
But at some point, this corrupts the whole thing. The Super Bowl itself is not really about football. It’s about marketing and advertising, the commercials, the hype, the gambling, and the half-time show. This year it is also about the Kelce-Swift cultural moment.
I suppose this is fun for some people. But is it worth it? And aren’t there better ways to spend your money, or to spend a Sunday afternoon? Most of us would be better off spending our time and money on cheaper and more lasting goods. There is also wisdom in supporting local bands and artists, and sporting events.
More importantly, we might also find a way to channel our money in more benevolent ways. That thousand-dollar ticket could buy a lot of food for a homeless family.
Now some people may think this critique is some kind of socialist rant. But I’m not saying that the government should intervene or that we could tax our way out of this situation. In America, everyone has the right to pursue happiness, get rich, and spend your dough however you want.
But we can make better choices — as a matter of ethics and integrity. I suggest we stop forking money over to millionaires.
Other choices are possible that are cheaper and probably more fulfilling. You could shut off the TV, cook up a veggie burrito, and take a walk in the park. You could spend your entertainment dollars supporting local artists.
As for sports, it’s more fun to play than to watch. Join a league. Or toss a football with a friend. You could even buy an old guitar and make some music of your own.
