Median household income of $51K == $28K in 1990, $17K in 1980, $8K in 1970

[frazzled]

6. Tuition at my university in 1968

was $2,100 (a rise from $1,600 in 1962-63), and by 1970-71 rose to $2,450. That would have been the equivalent of 30% of the annual median household income. http://bit.ly/1f6DIX0

Today, the tuition at that same university is $45,138. That's 88.5% of the annual median household income. (I'm not even counting room and board, btw). So while in 1968-71, when I was in college, the cost was steep (I had a full tuition scholarship, but living costs still made it expensive). Today it's prohibitive for the middle class.

Back in 1970, there were not so many things to own or buy, either: no cell phone bills, no cable television bills (the only television was free), no computers or software to purchase. So the $8,000--while just about identical to the $51,000 today--does not afford the same status in life. At least that is how it seems. I could be wrong.

Here's a good chart of median household incomes from 1950-1990: it was pretty much flat across those 40 years. It still is. We need a raise.

http://www.stanford.edu/class/polisci120a/immigration/Median%20Household%20Income.pdf