Your view for increasing the child support guidelines ("A matter of fairness," Feb. 12) shows your lack of understanding of the real world and how families live. They have very little extra money to pay because of the financial decisions they made while living together. You also have failed to consider the windfall that one person receives when they remarry or live with another person. The housing, food, auto and other expenses are being shared by the new spouse while the old spouse lives in a one bedroom apartment eating hot dogs. Your assumptions are only valid economically if the custodial spouse stays on their own.

Patrick M. Smith