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Do people work more if they are paid more?

Results so far:

No
46% 410 votes Total: 886 votes
Yes
54% 476 votes

I believe just the opposite is true. People who do the most real work (digging, cleaning, typing) get paid less than those on hand to 'supervise' such work. I taught middle school and made about 45,000 $ per year. My work meant I saw, taught, and evaluated the learning of about 160 kids per day. Now, my principal made over 100,000 $ per year. He never taught anything, seldom if ever dealt with actual students, and often left on time at 3:15 everyday.

Don't get me wrong I don't think there is anything wrong with such a system. I am working on earning the degrees and qualifications that will move me out of the 'trenches' of teaching to the administrative realm where you are expected to supervise.

Where did such a system come from? Well, in the late medieval era we had a rise of the middle class. Prior to this you were either wealthy and noble or poor and ignorant. Along comes education and a market economy that places people more learned in positions to 'supervise' and 'work out' things the top can't bother with and the bottom doesn't understand.

Follow a Senator around for a month and decide are American taxpayers getting their money's worth? Better still spend a month with a highly paid CEO. Heck, even when the company loses its butt those clowns walk off with millions. Never understood the idea that regardless of success or failure a person could get lots of money.

Money has never been a good incentive to get people to work harder. Most folks today tell me that benefits and job security are higher on the list than money. So it begs the question, what is the better alternative?

Well, I think having a good boss who I can trust to do their job and leave me alone to do mine is more important than 'bonuses' or some crappy plaque of recognition. I want to be able to go to the doctor when me or my kids are sick. I think having a steady income is better than a short term high income. Seems to me that when I get to old to work as hard as I do now that having money to live on would be nice.

Quick aside, I think retirement is a myth. Most folks who retire that I have known get bored and die. My own father is in his 70s and still works. Not for the money, nope Dad just wants to do something useful instead of watching day time T.V. or following Mom around buying antiques (code for junk only other 'collectors' value). Don't tell Mom though it keeps her busy and happy.

Okay, where was I? Yes, people who do less real and meaningful work get paid more money. That is the way of the world. Face it, a lawyer who bills you per hour makes hundreds of dollars. No, they don't type up your documents a lower paid legal secretary or para-legal does that. No, he does not research relevant law and writes up legal briefs again someone who makes less but works harder does that. Sure, he is in court speaking the special tongue of legalease. If you calculate what they get paid for the time spent in court you will get a tummy ache.

As my buddy Texas said in middle school, "I was a lot happier when I was dumb and poor." The wisdom is those well paid and low work folks seem to fill their days with things that cause stress and somewhat justify their salary. Heck, Donald Trump makes millions but wears those dumpy looking suits, that oxygen starving neck tie, and a horrid rug atop his bald pate. I think I would rather make less, skip the suit and tie, and finally embrace whatever God decides to impart in terms of hair. I am a simple soul who would like to get paid more, work less, and avoid the trappings of a yuppie existence (whatever that is).

Learn more about this author, T. M. Beeker.
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