Helping the poor stay poor
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