|
I don't believe that money is a non-factor, though. Even if the training facilities aren't state-funded, our general wealth allows the parents to be able to pay the exorbitant fees for maintenance and upkeep of these facilities. As far as stipends and bonuses are concerned, they usually mean the difference between "wallowing in your own shit, eating rotten fruit" and "shoving your own shit out into the street and eating overripe fruit". Not a massive lifestyle change, except for the athletes themselves. This coupled with the fact that we can afford not just to keep our athletes well-fed, but to actually design a specialized diet around the event they want to compete in.
It's not just money, by any means, but O'Reilly's piece is just another bit of jingoistic, New American Century, "we're the best in the world at everything" crap.
__________________
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself.
---Friedrich Nietzsche
|