My youngest son had a field trip to some local businesses this past week. He enjoyed going in the freezer at the grocery store, and of course checking out the police station. He mused about all the things he learned, and admonished, "Cops must get paid the very most of anyone!"

I told him, "No, unfortunately they don't," and challenged him and his brother to guess who is paid the absolute most of anyone.

Not surprisingly, their guesses were things like teachers, firefighters, and soldiers.

After each "no," they would exclaim, "But they are so important! Why don't they get paid the absolute most?"

When I finally broke it to them that professional sports players, movie stars, and other celebrities get a huge chunk of change, they were stunned.

"Justin Bieber has more money now as a young man than a fireman will ever have in his lifetime," I told them, as they both mock-vomited. My oldest son continued to explain how much he does not have Bieber-Fever while my youngest started to tear up. "That's just not fair!" he told me, "My teacher should be the one who gets the most because without her, we don't learn! If kids don't learn, they can't do all the other important jobs!"

It was a sobering truth, indeed. And we reflected for a moment, before both boys of course decided on their unrealistic career paths to match their financial hopes.