Janet Yellen's 7 million dollar income from speaking fees over the past 2 years. Maybe, instead, put amateurs in charge?

This just seems inevitable, whether it's Biden, Trump or practically any other politician of national stature. Picks for high level staff will come from professional elites. They have histories of things like lucrative speaking contracts.

It's either that, or politicians would need to pick their staff from the ranks of amateurs. Putting amateurs in charge has consequences as well.

Professionals often do know more about what they are doing; at least. The issue of competency.

I realize that competency of leaders; especially corporate executives is often in question.

I'm a sync about corporate executives for sure, but I think amateurs, as a general rule, might do even worse. Put amateurs, or even crackpots, in charge of the Center for Disease Control; for instance.

Yes, it is being revealed that Biden's pick for Treasury Secretary, Janet Yellen, has collected more than $7 million in speaking fees over the past two years. This from major corporations and Wall Street banks.

Par for the course.

I'm still in favor of competent leadership. Even Bernie Sanders is now part of the 1%, so I have read.

This just seems inevitable. It's not a deal breaker, but I am a critic of the high compensation that so many professionals and recognized leaders, in our society, get.

I still remember thinking that famous gay rights activist, David Kopay, was getting a lot of money for speaking at a symposium at Western Washington University, back in 1978 just because he was a former football star. The standard speaking fee for speaking at symposiums, on campus back then, was closer to $50 plus travel and hotel expenses.

These days, however, $1,000 might be seen as peanuts.

If you are a professional, be careful of your compensation. It might come back to haunt you as everything, these days, comes into scrutiny.