[Steve_Seattle]

"Wages here are stagnated or falling because of unreported 'real' inflation, ie, exhorbitant healthcare premiums, unaffordable housing, low paying jobs."

True. Cost-of-living increases usually run about 2-3%, at a time when the cost of housing - most people's major expense - has risen about 500% in 20 years (Seattle area).

Gas has risen 50% in three years, healthcare is going through the roof, and the cost of most commodities has risen equal to or faster than inflation. The "cost of living" indexes are an absolute sham.

[Intimidator]

True. Cost-of-living increases usually run about 2-3%, at a time when the cost of housing - most people's major expense - has risen about 500% in 20 years (Seattle area). Gas has risen 50% in three years, healthcare is going through the roof, and the cost of most commodities has risen equal to or faster than inflation. The "cost of living" indexes are an absolute sham.

Exactly and the exact reason I think our economy is going to hell in a handbasket fast. Without equity in their house, people have absolutely no discretionary income to spend whatsoever. In a consumer driven economy, well that self explanatory. We are headed for some hard times and if wages don't go up considerably the average Joe is forked bad