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

However, although my opponent has accused me of moving the goal post, I assert that he has clumsily attempted to minimize the distance required to score. My opponent's argument illustrates shortsightedness that verges on blindness. He is also being narrow minded by attempting to confine the argument's total equation to a single variable. If my opponent wishes to focus on a technicality and wallow in trivialities, he is free to do so. As he did eventually get to the true intent of the resolution, I will briefly address his retorts and focus the remainder of my response on said intention. ". .. the source of differentiation"To be clear, the argument rests in the full explanation which states, "Their roles are considered to be more valuable in that they serve as distractions and offer escapism to the masses. .. I assert that these athletes are paid more because they are deemed by the corporatocracy to be more valuable to the preservation of the capitalistic structure and the promotion of a materialistic way of life. " All of the agents of conformity promoted by society act in unison to maintain the status quo. (i. e. education, entertainment, sports, etc. ) As stated, some are More valuable than others. An example: While both the heart and the toe are a part of the body, I am sure recognizes that one is more valuable than the other. I will leave it to my opponent to figure out which one has more worth. "the other professions simply produce less overall revenue per capita employee. "The resolution is not solely contingent on economic data. I think most people know professional players are paid more per capita. As stated, "It seems to illustrate a dysfunctional and distorted valuation of national priorities. " The explanation of the resolution does not only question the economic valuation but the apparent dysfunction and distorted valuation of the nation's priorities. I acknowledge the generally accepted reasoning regarding free market pricing (S&D) and go on to state my assertion that "these athletes are paid more because they are deemed by the corporatocracy to be more valuable to the preservation of the capitalistic structure and the promotion of a materialistic way of life. " Thus, the reasons detailed for the higher pay And the distorted valuation of priorities are:1. Pro athletes serve to maintain the status quo2. Pro athletes serve as distraction and provide escapism.3. Pro athletes preserve capitalistic structure and the promotion of a materialistic way of life. "Pro athletes’ being a better distraction. .. "To ignore the more factor or the valuation of utility negates one of the major contentions of the full argument. As stated it is a poor attempt to limit the scope of the full argument. Now on to the actual issue: "Thus I argue. .. teachers. .most significant group in. .. maintaining the status quo. "As stated, my opponent has focused on one component of the arguing points in the resolution. Ignoring the other reasoning provided for the differentiation in salary and the distorted and dysfunctional valuation of national priorities. (i. e. distraction, provision of escapism, preservation of capitalistic structure and promotion of a materialistic way of life. ) Though I agree with my opponent on much of the information he detailed regarding the purpose of teachers, I do not think all teachers readily agree with the ideology of the propaganda. This is why 'standardized' tests are designed by the bureaucrats and mandated as a requirement for students to pass. These tests give the bureaucrats control over the educational curriculum and the scope of the education, as teachers are expected to 'teach to the test' in order to achieve desired standards or benchmarks that are set by bureaucrats. Thus, while teachers are agents, they are more educational mediators who channel propaganda than autonomous instructors with the ability to construct and convey innovative and radical lessons that challenge the existing notions and ideology. This is why education is rhetoric and routine in need of revitalization and re-invigoration. While teachers, or the educational system, do lay the groundwork for acceptance of the status quo, They Are Not Able To Continually Bolster This Groundwork Throughout The Lifetime Of Their Audiences. Thus, most become aware of the propaganda they were programmed with during childhood by the time they become adults. Distractions and methods of escape like sports, movies, drugs (illicit or approved), video games, etc. , become crucial in re-captivating the mass' waning beliefs in the status quo by making the desired norms of the establishment fashionable and promoting acceptance of the illusion of the classist, capitalist structure that is managed by the corporatocracy. (In regard to the socio-economic and political design of the US) The worth of these agents (i. e. teachers, athletes, actors, politicians) is determined by their ability to distract and captivate the public into the cage of conformity. Thus, anyone or anything that effectively bolsters the inherent traits of capitalism (the status quo) that I have detailed can be valuable to corporatocracy that manages the system. "If maintaining the status quo determined salary. .. "Limited in scope of complete argument. "I believe my opponent’s response. .. accepts. . "My response stated both supply and demand were 'fomented' or manipulated, mainly to dispute the opponents contention that unadulterated S&D was the cause of the professional athletes salaries. the economic success (sports model of United States) derives from artificial scarcity (entry into the majors is closely restricted) and monopoly power (these are the best leagues in the world in their sports -- the potential for new entrants to become rivals is negligible). Perhaps surprisingly, the European model is one of pure capitalist competition, red in tooth and claw. Profitability is very low. [4]"So here’s my point of contention. .. "This is a circular argument, in that gaining monetary profit is the goal of capitalism. Demand is fomented to increase profit as well as for other reasons. (i. e. distraction, escapism, arrested development)"I argue that if the demand wasn’t existent. .. "This is a statement of the obvious. Again, there is a difference between interest in athletics and commercialization. "None of this really matters. .. "Agreed, as we are not arguing the inherent demand for or the economics of athletics but national priorities in regard to the purpose and importance of education. "athletes are valued outside of this ‘status quo’. .. "This is false. .. my opponent agreed to the definition provided for status quo, I will restate it for convenience: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. Though my opponent feels he has scored he has totally missed the mark by fixating on one component of the argument and obsessing over the economics of athletics. Professional or commercialized athletics is the poster board for the status quo. Here's How:Materialisma veritable marketing orgy of violence and consumption—advertisers spending millions per minute to pander to our desire to own more stuff while fighter jets roar overhead reminding us of how the right-to-stuff is protected. Why must a football game become a vehicle for materialism and the power that defends it? [1]DistractonPro-sports contribute next-to-nothing to communities economically yet they are sucking public dollars that could be better spent on parks, schools and public services into millionaires/billionaire's pockets and deluding a whole generation of at-risk youth into believing in the possibility of an "athletic career". [2]Escapismit is time once again for Americans to fork over hard-earned dollars, probably billions of them, to satisfy an insatiable hunger for sports escapism even in these difficult economic times. .. Labor Day sadly brings the real end of summer, it also carries the hopes of millions of sports fans for rejuvenation for themselves and the home team, a true escape from the reality of health care, the economy and war. [3]Preservation of Capitalist StructureCommercial sport has become one of the most visible manifestations of globalization, with broadcasting and sponsorships turning clubs and players into vehicles for generating cash -- some consider them more brands than athletes. [4]Preservation of Classismsports team ownership is based on enormous wealth, not merit [5]Self-servingStars of the team are given endorsements moreso than their teams. (i. e. Lebron James, Kobe Bryant, etc). Among adults,the continued proliferation of fantasy sports wagering further aggrandizes personalaccomplishmentsover team success. [6]"Sports is another crucial example of the indoctrination system. .. It offers people something to pay attention to that is of no importance. .. It keeps them from worrying about things that matter to their lives that they might have an idea of something about. .. It's a way of building up irrational attitudes of submission to authority, and group cohesion behind leadership elements, in fact its training in irrational jingoism. .. That's why energy is devoted to supporting them. .. and advertisers are willing to pay for them. " [2] Sources:. http://www.commondreams.org... [1]. http://www.verdant.net... [2]. http://www.washingtontimes.com... [3]. http://edition.cnn.com... [4]. http://journals.humankinetics.com... [5]. http://www.westga.edu... [6]