Today's Wallstreet Journal, page B3...Union Strong

[t-bone]

http://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/cpicalc.pl

They must be using the new math...common core?

 

[X-rated]

I find hard headedness an excellent substitute for intelligence.

Hell, you've got me beat; I'm not even smart enough to find a substitute.

 

[realityman]

http://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/cpicalc.pl

X-Rated,

Thanks for that. I didn't know that website was there. According to that site, the average inflation has been about 2%/year since 2007.

I derived my numbers from simply researching the cost increases of a number of common items everyone buys, such as milk, eggs, oranges, etc...

The results I got were increases anywhere from 2.5% to 4.1%. Admittedly, I don't know how many of those things you'd have to research to get an accurate idea of real inflation. I only looked at a small handful, maybe 5 or 6. But my unscientific results pointed me towards an inflation rate average of just over 3%, so I stand by my assertion that we'd need AT LEAST a 24% increase in wages just to earn the same buying power as we had in 2007. And if we wanted only a 10% "raise" then we'd need to achieve a 34% increase in wages. That's a sizable number, and personally I think we should be making an even larger raise.

While it may seem daunting, I think we can do it. It's just going to be difficult. But few things that are worthwhile are easy.

Sorry T-bone, common core was after my time. But I'm pretty good with an abacus and my fingers.