Athletes are paid higher salaries than teachers because they serve to maintain the status quo

As I detailed other reasons for the salary gap and included doctors (who include herbalists and other non-traditional forms of medication), I do not agree that a negation exists. I also stated that professional athletes are considered to be MORE valuable as distractions and outlets for escapism promoted to the masses. By stating it thusly, I alluded to the fact that teachers can also be viewed as maintainers of the status quo. This view has some substance, yet, there are some differences. Whereas, professional athletes follow a uniform guideline of rules and regulations that are outlined in their respective sports, teaching is implemented with various methods. Many of these methods were created and designed to be different from or go against the grain of the typical or status quo methods of teaching. (i. e. homeschooling, unschooling, self learning, etc. ) I was not able to fit the entire concept in the header. However, when viewed from this perspective, I suspect my opponent will consent to a continuation of the debate. In alignment with that suspicion, I will make a prima facie case for my argument. status quo : the current situation : the way things are now : the existing state of affairs In this context, my intent when I allude to the status quo will be a depiction of the materialistic, classist, competitive and self-serving nature that typically accompanies capitalist governments. Particularly the higher valuation of property and its ownership over the people or the citizenry. It may also behoove my opponent to bear in mind the difference between corporatism and corporatocracy. "I assert that the cause of athletes' salaries most significantly, perhaps even solely, caused by a generic supply and demand relationship. The higher salaries are merely a capitalist manifestation of a demand for professional athletes against a low supply of high quality athletes. " Of course, this is the standard statement or public announcement propagandized in regard to this disparity, however, as most propaganda, it is miseducation and false advertisement. As my opponent has offered the claim that the disparity is a manifestation of the laws of S&D (supply and demand), I will list the laws as part of the foundation of my counter argument to said claim. The counter-argument being my assertion that the disparity is more a result of manipulation of these laws of S&D than a natural manifestation of them. The four basic laws of supply and demand are: 1. If demand increases and supply remains unchanged, then it leads to higher equilibrium price and higher quantity. 2. If demand decreases and supply remains unchanged, then it leads to lower equilibrium price and lower quantity. 3. If supply increases and demand remains unchanged, then it leads to lower equilibrium price and higher quantity. 4. If supply decreases and demand remains unchanged, then it leads to higher equilibrium price and lower quantity. In the article "How to manipulate the law of supply and demand"" Neil Patel states, "If you"re willing to think and act strategically, you can easily manipulate the laws of supply and demand. It should be surprising to learn, however, that by manipulating the laws of supply and demand, you can make more profit in less time and with far fewer headaches. Manipulating supply and demand is actually not difficult since there are only two variables involved: supply and demand. If you"re able to gain control over these two variables, you will be able to gain control of your pricing and profit margin . .. the lessons I"ve learned. : Lesson #1: Positioning Yourself as a Rare Commodity Lesson #2: Gain Control Over Supply Lesson #3: Manufacture Demand Lesson #4: Never forget Lesson #1" Although the concept is basically the same for all pro sports, to illustrate the manipulation, I will use the NBA. 1. Positioning Yourself as a Rare Commodity - The NBA is a rare commodity, as rare as it gets actually, as they have a monopoly over professional basketball in the U. S. 2. Gain Control Over Supply - Although Con suggests that there is a shortage of supply, as for professional basketball, this is inaccurate. The NBA controls the supply of players through the use of its draft. 3. Manufacture Demand - Advertising, Merchandise, promotion of players as role models. (side note: management is not promoted as widely as the players, although this would be a more lucrative and feasible profession. ) 4. Never forget Lesson #1 - Along with the NFL, the NBA is the only pro league in the U. S. that requires players to complete a certain number of college semesters before being eligible. This provides further control over the supply. Thus, the professional business model of pro sports (in this case the NBA) is not a natural 'capitalist manifestation' of supply and demand. Also, in this case, it is not the case that demand 'exists independent of corporatism'. "Athletics and athletic values are not confined to capitalistic societies. " While this is true, it is irrelevant as to why such a disparity exists between teachers and professional sports players salaries, especially in the US. The Olympic athletes receive nothing for their participation, unless they medal. The amount they receive is a pittance compared to professional sports. [3] These athletes are said to be competing out of respect for the nature of true sportsmanship. Also, athletes in professional athletes in other countries are not paid at the same rate of those in the US although the popularity(demand) is high. In the case of pro basketball, it has become a world wide sport. In fact, international teams often lure prospective and current NBA players to their leagues. "Thanks to a major marketing push and generous salaries, the CBA attracts many famous NBA players: Stephon Marbury, Tracy McGrady and Gilbert Arenas are on the list of standouts who crossed the Pacific. " College players, who many argue should be paid, are given nothing. "To claim that corporate goals cause athletic demand is to ignore humanity's evolutionary and historic value of the athletic. " There is a difference between admiration for athletics and adulation, fawning or idolism. Corporate goals do partially cause or magnify demand by the use of marketing, advertising, and role modeling. (especially in regard to certain target markets) "I question why sports such as basketball and football are shoved down are throats by the media, while sports like the senior Olympics harbor little value in terms of communication by publication or broadcast. One can argue that because so much revenue is plugged into teams like the Yankees or Giants, fans feel obliged and compelled to watch them, whereas "low key" sports such as track simply cannot contrive that much revenue. " [6] "Weighed against its demand (supply divided by demand), the proportion of athletes is far smaller than those of teachers. " Need of clarity - Not sure, but if you are saying that there are more teachers than professionally eligible players, that is arguable. Especially when one considers the manipulation aforementioned. Status Quo I reiterate and reassert that athletes are paid higher wages in comparison to doctors and teachers because of their perceived higher value in the eye of the corporatocracy. They provide a distraction for the masses - "We see more in our newspapers about sports than we see about world or national news, the arts, culture; we turn on the local television at night and see more TV sports news than the similar things; when we turn on the television on the weekend, the tube is glutted with sports entertainment, not to mention all-sports networks. " [7] They provide a method of escapism - sport is the opiate of the masses, due to the fact that we are in the age of the sport consumer, which is dissimilar to the age of the sport spectator. .. One can argue that sports counteract religious morals; guarding society from bleak realities and instilling a false sense of achievement. [6] They foster the status quo - By becoming fans, spectators engage in certain kinds of pleasures, fulfilling their own desires through fetishism, voyeurism, and narcissism. .. The world of sports encourages commercialism, sexism, and most importantly, nationalism. [6] They promote unhealthy competition - "As a society, we construct "types" of athletes based on their economic and social value, which acts as a connotation for their overall significance to the universal spectator. The idea of "winning" is something that fuels competition, which in my view is one of America"s greatest vices; we compete not simply to enhance our own physical attributes, but to provide ourselves with a sense of achievement at the expense of another"s failure. " [6] Side Note: The highest paid teachers are in Luxembourg and the lowest in Indonesia. This is a global issue. Societies, especially the US, need to get their priorities straight. While the educational system and process in the US needs a major overhaul, the majority of teachers are teaching out of a earnest desire to enrich the students they encounter. I think many teachers feel stifled by the system. Sources: . http://www.merriam-webster.com... [1] . http://www.quicksprout.com... [2] . http://www.businessinsider.com... [3] . http://www.fromthegrapevine.com... [4] . http://www.upenn.edu... [5] . http://www.studentpulse.com... [6] . http://www.upenn.edu... [7]