The Blog | Chris Kelly: S/W FI "Freedom" Index Hits 51-Year Low | The Huffington Post

This is so cool. Take the minimum wage at the time, then use it to buy a gallon of gas, at the time, and drive around.... maybe donuts in the parking lot. Anyway.... as the article points out... check out the difference from the end of the Clinton years, to the bankrupt years of the Bush reign.

...... S/W FI -- or Springsteen/Wilson Freedom Index -- is a pretty good measure of quality of life. Which is why I named it after Bruce Springsteen and Brian Wilson. In America, your freedom can be measured by how much leisure (driving around) you earn from how much labor (working a crappy job).

If you don't believe me, ask every rock song ever written.

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The Springsteen/Wilson Index
Minimum Wage (in miles)

2007 33.6 miles
2004 53.6 miles
2000 66 miles
1996 69.2 miles
1992 71.4 miles
1988 69.6 miles
1984 51.6 miles
1980 50.8 miles
1976 77.8 miles
1972 88.8 miles
1968 94 miles
1964 83.2 miles
1960 64.4 miles
1956 66.6 miles

Sources: Energy Information Administration / US Department of Labor

Your mileage may vary.