Dolpihns amongst teams getting government $ for military tributes

[JTC111]

In the past, I've wondered why we have so many displays of militarism at sporting events. Apparently, they're nothing more than propaganda commercials for which WE'RE paying the bill.

[h=1]14 NFL teams took tax dollars for patriotic pregame displays[/h]According to Christopher Baxter and Jonathan Salant of NJ.com, the New Jersey Army National Guard and the Department of Defense paid the Jets a total of $377,000 from 2011 to 2014 for the salutes and other advertising, citing federal contracts.....The Jets weren’t the only team accepting tax dollars in exchange for access to football, as the Falcons, Ravens, Bills, Bengals, Browns, Cowboys, Packers, Colts, Chiefs, Dolphins, Vikings, Steelers and Rams have also accepted the money.

 

[NYPhinzFan]

Sounds like a win/win. The amount of pork "WE'RE paying the bill" for is beyond any of our comprehensions; nothing any of us can do to change this. At least in this case, my money went to an organization I support (for once).

 

[Montana-phan]

If that money is used to get our military member tickets, then I have no problem whatsoever. Love seeing our troops at the games. I was never in the military, but have a lot of gratitude, respect, and admiration for those that are.

 

[JTC111]

If that money is used to get our military member tickets,

The article doesn't say anything about tickets.

 

[dlockz]

im mixed on it because I have not seen the full details. So its hard to know what exactly the army is paying for and what the teams are actually doing.
I do think its somewhat deceptive and people think its something its not. Not sure If I feel bad about it or not lol. I guess they are just paying for advertising in a way.

 

[datruth55]

In the past, I've wondered why we have so many displays of militarism at sporting events. Apparently, they're nothing more than propaganda commercials for which WE'RE paying the bill.

[h=1]14 NFL teams took tax dollars for patriotic pregame displays[/h]According to Christopher Baxter and Jonathan Salant of NJ.com, the New Jersey Army National Guard and the Department of Defense paid the Jets a total of $377,000 from 2011 to 2014 for the salutes and other advertising, citing federal contracts.....The Jets weren’t the only team accepting tax dollars in exchange for access to football, as the Falcons, Ravens, Bills, Bengals, Browns, Cowboys, Packers, Colts, Chiefs, Dolphins, Vikings, Steelers and Rams have also accepted the money.

$377,000 over 4 years isn't much. I guarantee you the military paid more for the commercials they run on TV for a 15 second spot than they pay to one of these teams. Of course if you hate the military then you would take issue with this.

 

[Sons Of Shula]

Billionaires manipulating the tax code to pay millionaires and we act surprised when they take advantage of more tax payer money. :idk: Just one more reason to cut the military budget. I understand it's a part of an advertising budget but it's the principle of it all. Then again, if we actually had a government that acted on principle.... yeah, never mind.

 

[Gonzo]

A volunteer military requires recruits, which requires advertising. NFL teams aren't taking advantage of anything, they're just running a business. It's a win-win, so I fail to see why I should be upset.

 

[dlockz]

Billionaires manipulating the tax code to pay millionaires and we act surprised when they take advantage of more tax payer money. :idk: Just one more reason to cut the military budget. I understand it's a part of an advertising budget but it's the principle of it all. Then again, if we actually had a government that acted on principle.... yeah, never mind.

Well the military budget obviously needs to be cut when we outspend the next 10 countries combined regardless

---------- Post added at 11:12 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:10 AM ----------

$377,000 over 4 years isn't much. I guarantee you the military paid more for the commercials they run on TV for a 15 second spot than they pay to one of these teams. Of course if you hate the military then you would take issue with this.

Not that it matters but that's only the NEw Jersey national guard and what they spent.

 

[datruth55]

Not that it matters but that's only the NEw Jersey national guard and what they spent.

It looks to me like it says the New Jersey National Guard and the Department of Defense.

But you're right...we should cut our military budget and spend what Sweden spends on their military. We'll see how that works out when the USA is the most hated country in the world. Should work out well...we won't be attacked or anything lol.

 

[JTC111]

$377,000 over 4 years isn't much. I guarantee you the military paid more for the commercials they run on TV for a 15 second spot than they pay to one of these teams. Of course if you hate the military then you would take issue with this.

I don't hate the military, but I do think we spend way way too much on the military. Teams hold these pregame events that are billed as military tributes of some fashion. The way they're presented, they give the impression that the team or the league is staging the event to honor military service, but that isn't at all what's going on. Rather, it's the military paying the teams to give the appearance of honoring the military. Propaganda, pure and simple. And like so many military projects destined for mothballs before they're even built, this is likely a reward for campaign contributions.

 

[Sons Of Shula]

It looks to me like it says the New Jersey National Guard and the Department of Defense.

But you're right...we should cut our military budget and spend what Sweden spends on their military. We'll see how that works out when the USA is the most hated country in the world. Should work out well...we won't be attacked or anything lol.

Way to be rational.

 

[67Stang]

I just learned about this a few days ago and it is kind of sad to me. Some know I just retired from the Air Force with 26 years, so I definitely understand the importance of the military advertising for an all volunteer force. However, when I saw these team salutes on a weekly basis, I thought it was a program that that team was doing to support our military and all of its everyday heroes. To find out now why they are doing it does make me kind of sad because the motive is not support, it is money. I don't think that there is anything wrong with it as it is a mutual business decision on both parts. It just kind of feels like when I was 7 and found out there was no Santa Claus, I knew I would still get presents, but it was never quite the same.

 

[NYPhinzFan]

Billionaires manipulating the tax code to pay millionaires and we act surprised when they take advantage of more tax payer money. :idk: Just one more reason to cut the military budget. I understand it's a part of an advertising budget but it's the principle of it all. Then again, if we actually had a government that acted on principle.... yeah, never mind.

Yeah, when I get started on this subject, it's usually how I end it.

 

[NYPhinzFan]

It looks to me like it says the New Jersey National Guard and the Department of Defense.

But you're right...we should cut our military budget and spend what Sweden spends on their military. We'll see how that works out when the USA is the most hated country in the world. Should work out well...we won't be attacked or anything lol.

Now that's the propaganda...We spend more on our military than the next 9 countries combined. Either we're the most hated country on the planet or defense contractors run government. We could have free education (lower and higher) and universal healthcare for a fraction of what we spend on defense, unnecessarily.