[MR] 5%

[polearmed at att.net]

The day I see you -grinning- coming out of the theatre/restaraunt/Disney World rest-room with a plunger in your hand, is the day I'll let my argument go.:)  We expect more for more.

Median is -not- average, but the middle of a distribution of values.  Sometimes it is close, but I doubt this time it is.  I simply cannot believe that the average American makes $17 an hour, especially when minimum is a 5.25.  $17 could be the average wage, but Trump is in there and so is Julia Roberts' $20M a picture.  I certainly doubt the average SCA participant makes that much.  Everyone keeps asking where the abundance of college students are that used to be a part when we were younger.  I believe this is chief among the causes that changed our demographics and raised our expectations.

Falcone  
 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: "Tom Rettie & Heather Bryden" <tom at his.com>
> Hey Falcone:
> 
> Of all the skills I've learned in the SCA, proper use of a plunger may be
> the one that is most transferable to modern life.  So if you are willing
> to take on parking mean people at 2:00 AM, I'll keep unstopping
> overflowing toilets and papering porta-potties. <g>
> 
> I did a little research, though, and I'm not sure I'm comfortable with
> your assessment of the cost of events.  According to the Bureau of the
> Census, median household income in the United States was $44,389 in 2004. 
> Assuming a 20% tax bracket to cover federal and state taxes, that leaves a
> net of $35,511, or $17.07/hour.  So two days worth of the average
> American's household income is somewhere around $273, rather than the $35
> you imply.
> 
> I do agree that everything is getting more expensive.  Around here, pizza
> and a movie for four will set you back close to $70.  As will a round of
> golf for one person, or two discounted passes to a local amusement park. 
> By comparison, $70 for a whole day's entertainment for four people,
> including a 3+ course dinner and maybe lunch, is a pretty good deal.  Even
> if you have to add a little sweat equity to the price.
> 
> Elisabeth MacAlester, OP, OL
> 
> -- 
> Tom Rettie            tom at his.com
> Heather Bryden        bryden at hers.com
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