Do your time + money = YOUR values?

Mental Matters
By Jennifer Goble

The word, million, has been thrown around on the news lately; Mega Millions jackpot, (actually billion – that is nine zeroes) Megyn Kelly is seeking a $50 million buyout from NBC, and the 2018 midterm elections are estimated to cost over $5 billion. (nine zeroes again)

Henry Ford said, “It’s not the employer who pays the wages. Employers only handle the money. It’s the customer who pays the wages.”
You and I, my friends, are the customers.

There is massive discrepancy within the topics of money and wages. For example, NFL teams bring in hundreds of millions of dollars every year, yet NFL Cheerleaders get paid from nothing to $750.00 for the entire season.. The quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers makes $42.5 million.

Unlike the average salary of $38,000 in Sterling, CO, TV Judge Judy makes $47 million, Dr. Phil $77 million, Vanna White $8 million, and Gayle King – co-anchor of CBS news makes $5.5 million. Radio talk show hosts Dr. Laura Schlessinger rings up at $15 million, while Rush Limbaugh marches to $70 million.

In comparison, the median annual salary for the pilot of a large jet is $121,408, a medical doctor earns an average of $162.000, full-time pastors at Protestant churches earn an average $40,000, and a teacher in Sterling starts at $30,100 and after thirty-five years plus a master’s degree, earns $60,840. Enlisted soldiers are entering the service at the lowest rank, E-1 “private” receive approximately $1,500 per month. ($18,000/year)

Our credit card statements and our calendars do not lie; how we spend our money and time tells everything about our values.

As I examine my Visa statement, I can certainly improve, but other than monthly bills like insurance and utilities, my spending on family, housing, and self-care snap a fair picture of my values.

As for our country, I hear speeches of more spending for the military, farmers, and increased hourly wages, but my research didn’t support the talk. We do spend big money on athletics and entertainment. We pay those huge salaries because we buy tickets to see them, and we spend time watching them. The poor support the rich and famous, not the other way around.

In the same country, how is one person worth six or nine zeroes for one year of work, and another, equally as competent, has years of education, training, and/or experience, earn a salary with three zeroes? How does the US feel proud when over 540,000 people, on any given night, are living as homeless?

Anna Lappé, author, and advocate for sustainable food said, “Every time you spend money, you’re casting a vote for the kind of world you want.”

Do your time + money = YOUR values?

Note: The above information is from Google searches. Space does not allow citing sources. If there is variance in the literature, the numbers reflect those most consistently cited.

Until the next time: Live while you live.

Jennifer Goble, Ph.D., LPC, is the author of “My Clients…My Teachers,” and the blogger and writer of Rural Women Stories: www.ruralwomenstories.com.

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