[Iron Munro]

I know you were only trying to help...but stop it. You’re depressing me.

I can understand that. According to the numbers we were a hell of a lot better off in many ways 40 years ago.

Median income 1971 - $9,000

Median income 2011 - $45,000 to $50,000
(hard to find an exact number that hasn't been "adjusted" by the government)

So individual median income has increased by a factor of 5 while most consumer goods have increased by a factor of 10 or more.

And a huge part of that is because of big increases in the tax burden on individual items, on manufacturers and on businesses.

[TYVets]

In the 1960s Gasoline varied from 18.9 to 21.9 cents per gallon, unless there was a gas war going on.

They pumped your gas, checked your oil and everything else under the hood, checked the tire pressures and you never got out of your car.

[CodeToad]

When I look at ratios of income there is no doubt higher taxes come into play. Home values went from 2.5 times income to 5 times. Total taxes paid today, no matter who you are, is about 55%, as the federal, State and local government spend 55% of GDP.