[xzins]

1980 was $21,500 and, as of 2002, it was $36,000 -- a 59 percent increase

There is a simple math calculation of future value that shows the problem differently than the author suggests.

If I had 21500 dollars in 1980, what would be the same purchasing power in 2002, 22 years later IF inflation were at the 4 percent level. (Which is a fair estimate - Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Bush all have had fairly controlled inflation.)

21500 would need to be 50,550 in 2002 to have the same purchasing power 22 years later. Therefore, the per capita GDP has not kept pace with inflation.

Because of the poor math at the beginning of his article, the remainder of the article is moot.

We are foolish if we do not recognize that for security reasons we should have war-time portions of all industries here in this country.

[The Old Hoosier]

I would expect he indexed it to inflation. He's not an idiot.

[Straight Vermonter]

I found similar numbers here that say they are calculated in constant 1999 dollars.