[dirtboy]

No, that's not the bottom line. American industry and the jobs market is one thing, how much cash that the federal government puts into circulation (i.e. inflation) is an entirely different beast. A beast, I might add, that **you** felt compelled to dredge up to cover up your earlier insinuation that wages had actually declined (which they did not do).

Southack, that is one of the most idiotic posts I have seen in some time. What if wages went up 1.8 percent and the government went into Carter mode and inflation was 12 percent? Would you still say that things were OK? You said that average salaries went up. But average salaries, coupled with inflation, showed a net decrease of around .4 percent - and that is all that matters to someone who actually lives off their paycheck.

[Southack]

"that is one of the most idiotic posts I have seen in some time. What if wages went up 1.8 percent and the government went into Carter mode and inflation was 12 percent? Would you still say that things were OK?"

Things being "OK" or not isn't the debate. Nice straw man, though.

Oh, and salaries went UP, not down; which is in stark contrast to having salaries decline even while inflation rises.