How much do your protestations really mean if you are paid to do them?

How much do your protestations really mean if you are paid to do them? To be a valid, sincerely protest, shouldn't you be the one going out on a limb? It may be hard to pin people down but I think if you are paid to protest, you are a sub-contractor of the person or people paying you. You are not motivated by a concern for an issue but instead motivated by the almighty dollar and a need to create chaos. It is an interesting phenomenon in our society that there is a group of people who can be hired to protest. No skin in the game, no personal commitment to a cause, just a little excitement and 15 minutes of fame. Worse, knowing that they are bought and paid for, the media still gives them credibility.