Helping the poor stay poor

Fri., Nov. 30, 2018

Regarding the article by Robert Samuelson, “Myth of Stagnant Incomes” (Nov. 21), comparing pay raises of rich and poor. His charts listed the poorest received a 32 percent raise, while the richest a 15 percent raise. Seems a good deal for the poor, until the raise is figured in. A 32 percent raise for poorest incomes - $25,300 - results in an $8,096 raise. A 15 percent raise for the richest results in a $27,945 raise - more than three times in dollars than the poor receive.

Raises based on a percentage of current earnings is the wealthy people’s way of helping the poor stay poor and the rich richer.

Mark Thompson

Cusick

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