I was thinking of a world wide purchasing power in real terms, so it would be the real earnings growth chart but modified by the value of the dollar compared to what you'd have to use in a foreign country. For charting's sake, it could simply be a basket of currencies (the overall dollar index?) but it would also be interesting to see how we've fared in terms of buying power in specific countries, too.
What I was getting at was American's ability to do certain things, like take a European vacation (or Canada or Latin America or Japan or China or Botswana). I suspect it's eroding quickly on all, or nearly all fronts.
For the income charts (or maybe it was net worth you did?) then categorize by top 1% income, top 10%, bottom 40% etc. (as before) because that illustrates the plight of the vast majority of Americans, not just those getting pumped up by the trickle down theory politicians.
I *think* that sort of chart would show how, for the majority of Americans, our ability to go out into the world community has diminished greatly since 1985 or so, and especially since 2000. This would rebut the constant mantra that it's never been so good here.
And is there anywhere where it's easier to finance a foreign excursion -- Vietnam, Botswana, ???
Part of that of course is the transportation to/from, but if I was to stay 30 days, then the transportation costs become less important compared to the overall costs.
I want to go to Norway and Finland in the next 10 years -- is that opportunity slipping away? That sort of curve.
Just a thought! |
