In New York State, child support is based on a formula that requires the non-custodial parent to pay support based upon a percentage of income depending upon the number of children

In New York State, child support is based on a formula that requires the non-custodial parent to pay support based upon a percentage of income depending upon the number of children as follows:

17% of adjusted gross income for one child

25% of adjusted gross income for two children

29% of adjusted gross income for three children

31% of adjusted gross income for four children

35% or more of adjusted gross income for five or more children

This amount is applied to the first one-hundred and forty eight thousand dollars of combined parental income and the application of the percentages to amounts over one-hundred forty eight thousand dollars is at the discretion of the judge or support magistrate.

1) Do think that the application of these percentages is fair?  State why or why not.  

2) Do you think that these percentages should routinely be applied when the combined parental income of the parties is over one-hundred forty eight thousand dollars?  State why or why not? 

3) If you do think that these percentages should routinely be applied when the combined parental income of the parties is over one-hundred forty eight thousand dollars, what factors should be considered?