Topic: Governmental Support For Amateur Sport

[Shaun Le Conte]

From time to time I have considered taking up an executive position in weightlifting at the provincial, and eventually, federal level. However I think one of the pre-requisites to holding such a position in Canada is the belief that the state should support amateur sport, at the grassroots level and (arguing that it is a positive activity that fosters physical fitness) and the national or elite level. I find greater difficulty in arguing for the latter. What do you think - is there any reason why a nation should support high-performance athletes and athletics? Is national pride alone sufficient reason? What benefit do taxpayers get for their money? What do you think.

From my understanding weightlifting in the USA different in that it is funded by the USOC, a non-profit charity that receives money from private donations. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Olympic_Committee). Let's focus on the publicly funded system for now especially since I think they are typical of how sport is funded in the majority of the world's countries.

[dabrock]

I am accord with you on this. We pay way too much tax in Canada as it is.  Supporting community events is great since that is what municipal governments should do anyway but when they refuse to address other issues that are more important I really don't want my tax dollars going to essentially professional athletes who will get huge sponsorships after they become successful and not give back to the tax payers who sponsored him or her in the first place. I would love to see those companies that spend millions on someone once they make it big take a chunk of that money and put it towards sponsoring development of athletes.

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

Why should people with no interest whatsoever in weightlifting be taxed, be enslaved, to pay for other people who do? This is not a legitimate role for government- not even close. Its an entirely evil concept.

[Andy Dick]

I don't like the idea, as with many taxes, because it in essence is saying that the government knows how to better spend someone's money than the individual themselves.  As Chris said why would someone with no interest in the sport want to sponsor it.  If was a government program that took the tax money and put it towards education of people teaching them to lift and improve health, fitness, quality of life, and combat obesity then atleast it would "sound" like a "good" tax but I still think it would be unjust.

If there was something already in place, however, I would think the money that was raised should go to funding competitions then money can be generated from the events.  Hopefully if there is enough interest the money from the events will eliminate the need for the tax.  I do not see this happening though.

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

If was a government program that took the tax money and put it towards education of people teaching them to lift and improve health, fitness, quality of life, and combat obesity then atleast it would "sound" like a "good" tax but I still think it would be unjust.

It would still be evil. Why should someone with no legs or arms be taxed, enslaved, to pay for other people to lift weights? There is no such thing as a good tax. All taxation is theft and slavery.

[Owen Duguay]

Shaun:   In reality the gouvernement does finance a part of our budget.   But the provincial must bear the brunt of finding other ways and means to balance their budget.   Weather or not in the future there might be more gouvernement financing no one knows.

I find your statement about  wanting to work full time for the provincial or national direction of Olympic Weightlifting very interesting.   It is a good idea.   Go for it Shaun.   You would do a great job.   Good luck.

[Erik Blekeberg]

Why should people with no interest whatsoever in weightlifting be taxed, be enslaved, to pay for other people who do? This is not a legitimate role for government- not even close. Its an entirely evil concept.

Yes but, it produced some top shelf commie lifters :P. The best weightlifting programs are from communist or former communist countries. I wager because lifting is their job. Here its a hobby.

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

Yes but, it produced some top shelf commie lifters :P. The best weightlifting programs are from communist or former communist countries. I wager because lifting is their job. Here its a hobby.

I don't view producing great weightlifters as a mission worthy of enslaving millions or billions of people.