In a recent article, AOL posed the following question: “Is Miley Cyrus the New Britney Spears?”

Well, of course she is. Forget about the weird similarities: Southerners, Disney shows, early recording careers, mother managers, constant paparazzi. Disney knows how to make money off of tweens then discard them.

Let’s start with Britney. She was on the “New Mickey Mouse Club,” which also produced Christina Aguilera, Keri Russell and Justin Timberlake. Britney had a hit record at 16 and all the fame and fortune that comes with it. By age 26, Britney lost her mind, lost custody of her children to a known deadbeat and lost control of her own money and career.

It only took 10 years.

What’s Christina up to? Well, being pregnant and giving birth gave her big boobs. That’s the latest press on her. Boobs. Not news about her singing – her boobs. Oh, and she’s out on the town again after giving birth, like any good mother – such as Britney. And she swims naked and has naked Sundays with her husband. At least she has a husband.

Keri? Cuts her hair – sounds familiar – which sends her hit TV series “Felicity” into a death spin. That was her big sin at the time – cutting her hair. Not running around looking for amateur gynecological exams – cutting her hair. As a comeback, she posed naked for Vanity Fair. Don’t bother looking it up – she’s well covered. She also co-starred with Tom Cruise in “Mission: Impossible III,” which didn’t help. She did a fine job in the well-received “Waitress,” where she played a pregnant waitress. Yay, Keri!

There have been others Disney produced to get at that babysitting money.

Two words: Lindsay Lohan. Enough said.

There is, of course, Hilary Duff. After being let loose from “Lizzie McGuire” for asking for too much money, Disney gives her a recording contract at 16 years old – also sounds familiar. After lots of paparazzi coverage and news updates on her increasing boob size, she takes on a “slutty role,” as news.com.au calls it.

Then teen-aged Vanessa Hudgens – with hit Disney movies and Disney recording contract – sends naked photos of herself to her boyfriend, which, of course, show up on the Internet. Squeaky clean Ashley Tisdale gets caught showing off a boob, too, which Playboy publishes.

Miley gets her cell phone photos published on the Internet, too. They don’t show her nude, but, rather, wanting to be sexy – at 15 years old.

Is there any hope? Sure.

Alyson and A.J. Michalka can’t act, but they do write their music and play instruments. Christy Carlson Romano has aged well and did very well in college. She also did well on Broadway, but Disney can’t seem to market brunette – why do you think they gave Miley a blonde wig? Raven Symoné currently stars with Martin Lawrence in a (Disney) movie without having to be slutty. Danielle and Kay Panabaker seem to keep out of trouble.

Disney currently has actor/singer Selena Gomez, actor/dancer Ashley Leggat and actor/latina Maiara Walsh waiting in the wings. What makes these actors different? Brunettes. They should do OK.

Walt would be spinning in his grave, if he had one. Remember, he wouldn’t allow Annette Funicello show her bellybutton in her beach movies with Frankie Avalon. Poor Walt. Poor Annette. Poor Frankie.