Price that in ounces of gold, for at least a nominal figure. At today’s gold price it’s equal to $25,000,000 in greenbacks. Not $4,000,000
Interest rates were a whole nother world. Government guaranteed bonds paid 4 to 6 per cent. Prudent savers could live on the interest income alone, without risking their principal in the markets. It is true that risk taking is the way to generate profits, not everybody wants to do that.
So the government first confiscates your wealth through monetary inflation, stealing a huge portion of its purchasing power over time. The most important attribute of money is a store of value. Then whatever somebody manages to save over time above and beyond, gets taxed. A tax, on the illusory increase in wealth due to inflation. Pretty sick.
Yeah... I just heard there's a guy down on the corner selling dimes for a nickel
:)