Alex, I agree with your observations and assessments, having been around longer than you and remembering those seemingly "bargains".
Automobiles are so much nicer and more dependable than those of our youth but their inflated cost is out of proportion. This was initiated by the demands of labor unions upon the industry and perpetuated by the manufacturer's lack of desire or ability to hold down the costs of too many executives, too much payroll and probably the costs of goods purchased. Excepting New York City residents, no one can avoid owning an automobile today. I enjoy my Ford Explorer for its utilitarian convenience. Fritz _____ From: Alex Sproul [mailto:imoca...@comcast.net] Sent: Thursday, March 06, 2008 9:25 AM To: o...@texascavers.com Subject: [ot_caving] Re: oil prices >I have a feeling that we will never get to celebrate the day that oil prices fall >below $ 100 a barrel. >LED flashlights from China are less expensive. Any thing else? I was shocked yesterday to see that Tyson chicken breasts are $5.50/pound, comparable to a decent steak. But then, when I was a kid, I got an allowance of 50 cents a week. That got me into the Saturday matinee (double feature westerns, newsreel, and an hour of cartoons) ($.20), a candy bar ($.05) and a soda ($.10), and I still had $.15 left over. The same entertainment/snack today would cost you close to $20.00. It's inflation. So, in 1950, or even 1970 dollars, neither gasoline nor chicken is any more expensive now than it was then, maybe even less. In 1970, gas was about 35 cents. Now it's $3.50, a ten-fold increase. In 1966, I bought a brand-new sports car for $1,400. A similar vehicle today would cost at least $28,000, a twenty-fold increase. Ergo, gas has remained stable with an inflating dollar, but cars are way more expensive (though, I'll grant, much more complicated and nicer). Gasoline is still a bargain, though since oil production has peaked, it will not remain so for long. The real issue is whether your paycheck has inflated as much as the price of the products and services you buy. My allowance has inflated quite nicely, thank you. Alex (who obviously doesn't have enough to do today, either) -- Alex Sproul, NSS 8086 NSS IT Committee --------------------------------------------------------------------- Give this to a friend: ot-subscr...@texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: ot-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: ot-h...@texascavers.com
