THE LIVING LARGE INFLATION

It's hard to believe how much prices have gone up since the good old days when the expression, "he's as sound as a dollar" was commonplace. My last car cost 50% more than my first house. And property taxes which pay for schools have gone into outer space. The electronics store is offering low-rate mortgages on the latest digital wide-screen TV. And a Florida retirement community is asking an initial sign-up fee of $544,000 plus monthly living fees.

Who are the greedy capitalists responsible for these incredible prices?

Just connect the dots and it becomes clear.

• After World War II, returning vets were delighted to buy "crackerbox" houses which had three bedrooms and one bath, plopped on 600 to 800 square feet of living space located on a 40-foot lot. There was no garage. Outside was a lawn and garden.

• Ten years later a builder in middle-class Wheaton, Illinois, offered "prairie ranches" with three bedrooms, one bath, and an attached single garage on a large 70-foot lot. Families of four and five lived in houses like that. Outside were patios, sandboxes and plastic pools for the kiddies.

• By 1970, we were living larger in homes with 1,400 square feet of floor space and sporting a large family room in addition to the living room (which was reserved for visits from the preacher).

• Today the average-size house is 2,200 square feet with four bedrooms, 2-1/2 baths, family room, large kitchen and attached two-car garage on a one-acre lot. Outside are small swimming pools and lavish decks.

• Current luxury (and future standard) housing is 5,000 to 10,000 square feet, containing a minimum of four luxury baths, six bedrooms, lavish kitchen for entertaining, exercise room, home theater, studies and attached three- or four-car garage on a two- to six-acre lot. Outside are designer swimming pools and tennis courts.

• Ultra luxury houses over 10,000 square feet contain a jillion rooms and baths, and tend to look not like houses, but more like French chateaux, Disney World castles, country clubs, and schools. In Saugatuck Shores, Connecticut, the yacht club was the most prominent building in the neighborhood. Now it is dwarfed by McMansions.

• Henry Ford put the nation on wheels with his Model T, which once cost less than $500.

• Eight years ago, the auto industry heatedly denied that the average cost of a vehicle had risen to $20,000, which seems pretty cheap now.

• A subsequent study revealed that the cost components of a $20,000 car were $4,000 for mandated safety features, $4,000 for electronics and luxuries like leather, and $12,000 for the vehicle itself.

• An automotive designer claims that electronics for comfort, convenience, entertainment and safety will become the dominant cost of an automobile by 2010.

• In 1950, the average school was a three-story brick building with an outside area for recess play time. Everyone walked to get there. Some junior highs, and most high schools, had adjoining athletic fields for football. Poor schools which couldn't afford football satisfied their thirst for violence by providing boxing teams. (It was found to be more cost-effective to deliver concussions in boxing than in football). In this era, property taxes were relatively low.

• By 2003, the average suburban school was a campus with many buildings and many activities. The buildings were surrounded by gigantic parking lots since it became déclassé to walk in the suburbs. Wide expanses of athletic fields provide ample room for football, baseball, soccer, field hockey and all kinds of other non-academic pursuits once provided by the vacant lot. In this era, property taxes are very high.

• Teachers were once highly educated, highly competent, non-unionized public servants who were dedicated to their work. Male teachers dressed in suits, even though many could afford only two. The average high school graduate could write effective and intelligent essays. School costs were modest.

• Teachers are now poorly educated, barely competent, relatively well-paid, unionized creatures of comfort who teach far fewer hours of class and spend few nights grading papers and quizzes. Although male teachers can afford several suits, they tend to dress down to what would have passed for beggars' wear in the 1960s. The average high school graduate doesn't know what an essay is. School costs are extraordinarily high.

• In 1950, the family entertainment room consisted of a large console radio in one corner of the living room. The family gathered around the radio after supper listening to the adventures of the Lone Ranger, One Man's Family or Jack Benny, while staring hard at the set with our visual imaginations working overtime. To change stations you had to get up (there being no radio remotes). If your father got a Lincoln Electric-type Christmas bonus, you might splurge on a Victrola and a few records which would get scratchy from all the repeat playing.

• In 2003, the family entertainment room is a theater containing enormous TV, Bose sound system, VCR, video disk player, and luxury reclining chairs. Every kid has his own TV, computer and sound system in his room. No getting up is required. No imagination is necessary.

• In 1950, you could communicate with pen, notepaper, envelope and a three-cent stamp.

• In 2003, you communicate with computer, e-mail and instant messaging.

• In 1950, your child was required to bring a three-ring notebook binder to school. They cost about 35 cents.

• In 2003, you child tends to bring a laptop computer to school. They cost a lot more than 35 cents.

• In 1950, you put Cheerios, a pitcher of milk and a sugar bowl on the breakfast table.

• In 2003, you put Honey Nut Cheerios (which is 37% sugar) and a pitcher of milk on the breakfast table. Presweetened cereals cost more than normal cereals and sugar served from the sugar bowl.

• In 1950, mother prepared dinner, which meant that food was about 100% the cost of the dinner.

• In 2003, it's a world of fast food, restaurant dining and restaurant takeout, where food is never more than 40% the cost of the dinner. The other 60% is what mom used to do for free, and for love.

• In 1950, a child got a new jacket when he grew out of the old one.

• In 2003, the child gets a new jacket when peer-based fads change. Today, the average kid never gets a chance to grow out of things.

• In 1950, retirement was a cottage or a small house on a small lot.

• In 2003, retirement is a gated retirement community with clubhouse, two restaurants, tennis courts, swimming pools, golf course, theater and all kinds of luxuries.

• In 1950, property taxes were low because they were based upon small lots, modest houses, low teacher salaries and conservative school construction costs.

• In 2003, property taxes are sky high and rising, making the taxpayer a victim of the perfect storm created by the confluence of large properties, big houses, unionized teacher salaries, and extravagant school construction costs.

If you connect the dots, you will easily see who the greedy are who are responsible for high costs.

As Walt Kelly, the creator of Pogo, said, "We have met the enemy and it is us."