2010 Olympic Games and the Economy

I have yet to watch one second of the 2010 Olympics, but before you get too impressed, let me confess... my family does not have cable. I was feeling a little blue about not having any Olympic spirit the other day, but a conversation with another, actually made me reasonably happy that I had not watched any of the festivities.

Allow me to ask a simple question first: why, in light of the global economic conditions, are countries spending bundles of money that they do not have to be part of a two week event with not lasting value or benefit? In our own country, we are told that the economy is in such a vulnerable state that corporate bonuses must be monitored and major corporations must be bailed out, yet some things appear to be not affected.

Hollywood keeps churning out useless films and spending major money to do so. Sporting events continue to take place and pay record contracts and politicians continue using corporate jets and SUVs despite the potential escalation in fuel prices and the enormous carbon footprint. The list goes on and on until we hit the Olympics.

Recent history has told us that the games bring a boost to the economy of the host country, but there is a underside to that, seemingly, rosy picture. Apparently, that boost is off set by the amount of money spent to prepare for the coming Olympics. Most host cities go into debt to complete the tasks needed to support the games. The picture continues to get cloudier when we learn that many of the structures built for the Olympics become vacant and useless mere months after the festivities are completed.

The Olympics serve as yet one more example of the hypocrisy of those alarmists running around crying the sky is falling. Apparently, it is only falling where it falls best. It is not falling in Vancouver during these two weeks, nor is it falling in Washington D.C. where the answer to every problem seems to be money and more of it. The economy must be doing fine in Hollywood where there has been no calls for a cease in any production due to current economic conditions. Actors and athletes still get paid obscene amounts of money, and yet, no one is calling for a curb in those salaries.

As I was feeling a pang of guilt for not watching any of the Olympics, a simple conversation again reminded me of what is really important... my God and my family. And, the Olympics, well, to be truthful... the two week event is not even on my list any more. Fill your ears and your heart with the words of God and not the words of men... you will be a lot better off. Blessings!