Thank you for that neato Inflation Calculator link.
When you look at the increase in prices & wages due to inflation you really begin to understand how much it defeats savings and “planning ahead”.
When I was 21 a newly graduated engineer was making about $10,000 a year. If I had planned to have that same purchasing power now in my retirement at age 66, I would need an income of $66,280. in 1968, few would have believed that much more would be needed by 2013. This is nothing less than governmental theft and/or gross incompetence. A stable currency is necessary for long term, accurate and wise financial planning. Otherwise, speculative investments begin to look attractive.
The crowd that says “Oh, the 17 trillion national debt doesn’t matter!” are hoping & planning to let inflation make that a manageable number. Or else they really don’t give a hoot.