SAG-AFTRA Needs a Pay Cut, NOT a Pay Raise

The recent protests by SAG-AFTRA, the union representing Hollywood employees, against low pay and the potential threat of AI stealing their jobs have sparked heated debates. However, it’s important to question the legitimacy of their demands, particularly when considering the countless individuals in other industries who truly deserve a pay raise.

While actors and writers undeniably contribute to the entertainment industry, the general perception that they are essential for society is highly debatable. Unlike construction workers, engineers, and agricultural employees who build our cities, develop groundbreaking technologies, and feed nations, many in the film industry are merely consumed with personal wealth and fame.

To suggest that these individuals, who often have minimal exposure to physical labor or intellectual innovation, should demand higher pay is misguided at best. Their inflated salaries are already a notorious aspect of the industry, contributing to its excessive nature.

Instead of siphoning resources towards an industry that predominantly caters to self-serving interests, it is crucial to prioritize those who genuinely make a tangible difference in society. Construction workers, engineers, and agricultural employees - the unsung heroes - deserve recognition and a fair increase in wages.

It is high time that society shifts its focus to supporting those who are working tirelessly to improve infrastructure, innovate, and sustain essential resources. Rather than indulging the pompous and self-centered media elites, let us redirect our resources to individuals who truly make a productive difference in society.