What People Earn

Sunday's "Parade" newspaper supplement featured "What People Earn" wherein a small photo of common and famous individuals is captioned with their name, age, occupation, hometown, and what they made last year.

DeeAnn Cushman, a medical marijuana provider from Oregon hauled in a mere $17,000 last year. If she dealt in non-medical marijuana, she could make that in a week!

Elizabeth Kelley, a modern dancer from Utah earned a cool $23,000 in 2009. Liz, trade in that leotard for pasties and a g-string, change your name to something exotic like Blaze, and go into exotic dancing! You'll make $23,000 in a month or two (although maybe not in Utah)!

Craig Takagishi from California cashed in at $84,000 as a "Math / Martial Arts Teacher". On the surface that sounds like an unusual double certification, but it may be just what is needed to bring America's youth to the forefront in today's competitive, math-oriented world. "Lance, recite the Pythagorean Theorem correctly or I'll toss you through this blackboard!" It may be just the incentive to match the academic performance of those Asian and European kids.

Taylor Swift, age 20, hauled in a cool $17 million last year as a country music artist. Ponder this. If Ms Swift never made another penny, she could live on $500,000 per year until she is 54.

Taylor was out-earned by John Stumpf, CEO of Wells Fargo, who overcame his comical surname to make $18 million last year. The "Stumpfer" is 56. He has nine long years left until he's eligible for Medicare though his 2009 salary allows him $2 million per year to cover any medical expenses he may have until he hits 65. I wonder how John feels about Obama Care.

In an interesting juxtaposition, two of 2010's sexual celebrities made the "Parade" list. Tiger Woods made $110 million last year while "Snooki" of MTV's Jersey Shore fame settled for $2,200. This is a prime example of sexism! Tiger hooks up with every skank that crosses his path but retains his sponsorships and his bank account (after legal fees). "Snooki" hooks up with every other Guido strolling along the boardwalk. Her income is below the poverty line (That's the 1960 poverty line) and she is reduced to making "personal appearances" at car dealerships and bar Happy Hours. The "Glass Ceiling" exists even in pop culture.