Wages of thin.

• Author: Watkins, Vince
• Position: Letters - Letter to the Editor

Regarding the September Economic Outlook on Sorien Schmidt, here are questions and comments a thoughtful reader might have:

1. Is the 60% [of N.C. parents who don't make a living wage] figure she throws out based on the federal definition of $18,400 for a family of four or the "double" amount she refers to? If they participate in all available federal and state entitlements, doesn't the family gross up to the doubled amount?

2. How many of these families have wage earners who work in restaurant service positions and underreport their tip income?

3. The percentage of employees over 30 years old who work for minimum wage is 2.8%, according to federal statistics. Six out of seven minimum-wage employees live with parents or relatives, have a spouse who works or are single without children. Average income in these households is more than $42,000.

4. The reference to "low-skill service and retail work" ignores the fact that $7 per hour is a starting...