C. Barkley: Athletes 'deserve preferential treatment' bc tax

[redheadbaker]

I didn't realize we were prioritizing vaccine distribution by the size of your tax bill.

thehill.com/homenews/news/534436-charles-barkley-athletes-pay-more-in-taxes-deserve-some-preferential-treatment

Charles Barkley: Athletes pay more in taxes, 'deserve some preferential treatment' for COVID-19 vaccine

Basketball analyst and NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley said Thursday that professional athletes should receive preferential treatment when it comes to administering COVID-19 vaccines.

On an episode of "Inside the NBA," Barkley cited the amount of taxes NBA, NFL and NHL players are required to pay as a reason for why he said they should be closer to the front of the line.

[lilac05]

Let’s be honest, he’s just saying what a lot of people like him are thinking. SURELY they won’t have to wait with the rest of the commoners to get their vaccines. (Spoiler Alert: They probably won’t.)

[dontlook]

Chuck should shut up now and forever.

[suburbanzookeeper]

Bless his heart.

[aurora]

"Rich people get special privileges" has sadly been the way the world works for a long time.

[VillainV]

I asked my sister, a doctor who works with the NBA and NHL and has been heavily involved in their testing protocols. She said the NHL put out feelers on privately purchasing a vaccine, but decided not to. NBA and NHL at least will get vaccinated with their tier (ie: young healthy people). Many coaches are higher risk due to age and other comorbidities and will be vaccinated according to their local DOH guidelines.

ETA: Charles Barkley is still an ass.

[Jalapeñomel]

I pay a lot of fucking taxes and don’t get paid a fraction of what he does. I’ll happily trade. What a stupid thought process.

[tamarindy]

I’ve thought about this a lot lately. It’s completely disgusting and wrong, but realistically I just feel like on some level I know that those who are mega rich/uber famous will get this vaccine pretty much whenever they want it.

[thejackpot]

Typical Charles.

[bugandbibs]

Wouldn’t we be better off if more rich people died and we collected the estate and inheritance taxes?

[gt7301b]

How hard was it just to keep quiet on this one?

[livinitup]

Just about every time I hear an update on the list of people prioritized to receive the vaccine I silently add “and really rich people”.

Because who are we kidding.

[ssmjlm]

And then you have Willie Nelson who waited because he didn’t want to cut anyone in line, despite being 87.

consequenceofsound.net/2021/01/willie-nelson-covid-19-vaccine/?utm_campaign=later-linkinbio-consequence&utm_content=later-13559737&utm_medium=social&utm_source=instagram

[notreal]

Martha Stewart was blasted in social media as using her wealth to jump the line, but she's almost 80, so she got vaccinated with her cohort.

[sonrisa]

California Medical Association (or something - it wasn't my email) sent out a message to it's members saying it will go after anyone who gives vaccines out not in accordance with the guidelines (ie. you can't let someone get it just because they have money or influence).