Our tax money…wait for it…goes to private corporations!
You may or may not be aware that approximately 54% of our income tax money has gone/goes toward military efforts; the military has long been thought of as a public service that protects U.S citizens with national security. Private contracts, at least since the Iraq War began, have been outrageously ubiquitous. The military is no longer as it once was.
A good chunk of our income tax money also goes toward Social Security and health care. Compared to the military, these entitlements are great uses of income tax money! But…let’s not forget that your tax money, dispersed through government funds, is going to the mammoth major league sports industry. I’d surely support a system that was 100% private funding and 0% public funding, since tax payers wouldn’t have to pay for something that does not benefit them or interest them. This hasn’t been the case for the most part. Recall the George Bush, Texas Rangers affair. Only five teams in the MLB receive 0% government funding. Below are corporations who own the naming rights to stadiums AND are funded by the government.
MLB
J.P Morgan Chase – Arizona Diamondbacks – 76% public funding
U.S Cellular – Chicago White Sox – 100% funding
American Financial Group – Cincinnati Reds – 17% funding
Progressive Corporation – Cleveland Indians – 87% funding
Coors Brewing Company – Colorado Rockies – 75% funding
Comerica Bank – Detroit Tigers – 50% funding
Anheuser Busch – Florida Marlins – 3% funding
The Coca-Cola Company – Houston Astros – 67% funding
Miller Brewing Company – Milwaukee Brewers – 64% funding
Citigroup – New York Mets – 31% funding
Citizens Bank – Philadelphia Phillies – 50% funding
PNC Financial Services – Pittsburgh Pirates – 71% funding
Petco – San Diego Padres – 70% funding
AT&T Inc. – San Francisco Giants – 5% funding
Liberty Mutual – Seattle Mariners – 76% funding
Pepsi Co – Tampa Bay Devil Rays – 100% funding
Rogers Communications – Toronto Blue Jays – 63% funding
Thank God there are a few teams out there like the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers that have resisted a corporate name change and have come up with stadium funds entirely on their own.
[9.3]
Pete Doherty
Kids Like You & Me (KLYAM) 