Dear Folk1234--

You make some good points about the salary issues...it seemed way out of line to me, too. However, *if* the calculation figured in benefits (usually estimated as equal to the salary), perks like company cars and housing, and stock options, AND *if* the production worker's salary was computed on the basis of 50 40-hour weeks at minimum wage with no benefits, perks or stock options (since the lowly burger flipper doesn't usually get those), the worker's annual salary is around 12000.

I don't know how the figures were derived, because I only heard the tag end of the comment on NPR when I switched on the radio. I couldn't believe my ears (hearing aids)!

I agree about the art...I really don't care about being a millionaire superstar. In fact, I'd prefer not to be one. But I would like to have sufficient income to pay my bills and keep food on the table while being allowed to stay home and write, compose, and think a lot. And I'd like to do that without having to depend on the whim of a government bureaucracy, if at all possible.

V