[Right Brother]

#8 It is hard to believe, but 62 percent of all Americans make $20 or less an hour at this point.

#9 Nine of the top ten occupations in the U.S. pay an average wage of less than $35,000 a year.

These two statements seemingly conflict. $35,000 per year averages out to less than $17.00 per hr.

[reed13k]

Actually they don’t the second one is only referring to the top 10 occupations not all occupations as the #8 item does. Once you make the limitation in #9 then the two are totally different measurements. In addition both are stating less than numbers - but neither says how much less - just that they are less so even if both were the same population they could both be correct and just have one using a larger number then the other.

[RipSawyer]

No conflict, less than 17 is also less than 20. It is also less than a million. I used to amuse myself by occasionally telling someone that I made less than a million dollars last year. It was astounding how many looked at me with fury in their eyes and claimed I had to be lying because they were certain that I, “didn’t make that much.” I would then point out that even if I had not made a penny my statement would be true. I got the idea from an old time country performer called “String Bean” who sometimes would say, “This next number sold less than a million records...A LOT LESS!”

[Ophiucus]

#8 It is hard to believe, but 62 percent of all Americans make $20 or less an hour at this point. #9 Nine of the top ten occupations in the U.S. pay an average wage of less than $35,000 a year. These two statements seemingly conflict. $35,000 per year averages out to less than $17.00 per hr.

Nine of the top ten occupations does not necessarily mean 90%, each could employ 5%.