Wizard of Id Classics by Parker and Hart for February 16, 2020

Well, on the 15th of February 1970 I was making $3.15 an hour. I was laid off in September and it took me most of the ’70s to make that much again.

If one wrong word gets him a cell with Spook. Would it’s all cool get him the rack?

Some what’s 1970’s $1.65 today? $15?

I think my first job was around $1.65 an hour…

Egad! If he got a 5.5% raise each year for the past 50, we’re making roughly the same.

Funny how things go. Companies cut workers pay claiming they have to keep costs down, then turn around and award huge bonuses and salaries to the executives who had the idea.

Calculating for inflation, $1.65 in 1970 is $11.02 in 2020. Today’s national minimum wage is $7.25 per hour, so workers are effectively making far less than they did in 1970.

We need some of that today (punishment for editorializing) on the network news shows.

In 1969, counting Base pay, combat pay and sea pay I was making 2.25 an hour based on an 8 hour day 5 days a week. I never worked less than 10 hours a day, 7 days a week, that year in Viet Nam, most exceeded 12 hours. He’s got it made in the shade.

When I joined the Air Force in 1967, my pay for my first full year was exactly $2001.00.