Bloggers feature tales of how much better things were “in the old days” – 50-cent gas versus $4 gas, and so on. Their riffs are entertaining, but inaccurate. To compare an FDR dollar with an Obama dollar is apples and oranges. Two bits in the 1930s deserved some thought; a quarter today is beneath notice. Rather than specific dollar costs, a percentage of living costs should be used for comparison.

Some time ago, Lucius Flatley and the coffee-shop philosophers reviewed dollar costs between the Great Depression and today, and concluded things were much, much better nowadays. More recently, they wondered if 80 years was too long a stretch – comparisons might be more meaningful if they went back only 40 years. So, choosing the span from 1967 to 2007, these coffee economists refilled their mugs and compared what part of income was spent on living then and what part in 2007.

First came food and drink. Forty years ago this category consumed 17.8 percent of American income. Today, it is 10.6 percent. It is also interesting that the share of food and drink income received by farms is sharply down – 14 percent to 5 percent – while restaurants increased from 8 percent to14 percent Whether this shift is beneficial to society is a matter of opinion.

It turns out that the percentage of income spent for recreation has nearly doubled – from 6.1 percent to 11 percent Perhaps life is so much better there is now more time for play. Activities are surely more “professional.” Certainly, amateur athletes buy lots of gear to protect fingernails and save teeth. Nor would any self-respecting 12-year-old bicyclist be seen without a $60 helmet. And an evening with Ed Sullivan on TV for free has been replaced by Korn at the civic center for a day’s pay.

In education, 40 years ago college was not even considered by many kids. Today, college is available for any kid who wants it – and education is bigger and better. Nevertheless, Americans are still spending about the same percentage of their income on education as they were 40 years ago: 7.7 percent now versus 7.3 percent then.

Clothing share has decreased from 8.2 percent to 5 percent. A large part of that reduction is from improved fabrics, manufacturing and distribution. But style and public opinion also play a part. People wore hats and scarves then – hoodies today. Lucius admitted doing most of his own sartorial shopping in Goodwill and Salvation Army – a furtive practice 40 years ago.

Health care more than doubled – from 8.1 percent to 18 percent. Although there is waste, and exceedingly large profits in the health care and insurance industry, no one would deny care is much, much better. As one coffee drinker observed, “Forty years ago, we couldn’t have replaced Dick Cheney’s heart.”

Transportation remained about the same – from 8.9 percent to 8.5 percent – a remarkable figure considering how much safer and better automobiles are. In fact, when air travel as a segment of that cost is considered, the difference is still more striking: Boston to Los Angeles in five hours at less than one-fifth of the cost before Jimmy Carter deregulated the airlines.

The relative cost of housing has remained fairly constant – 20.8 percent to 18 percent – even though nowadays one will find public sewers in Gorham, air conditioning in Scarborough, electricity in South Portland and pavement in Windham.

Business costs doubled, from 4.1 percent to 8.3 percent. Republicans tend to blame taxes. Democrats blame the multi-million dollar salaries of CEOs and the “creative destruction” of Bain Capital.

Listeners were free to accept either valuation.

The final comparison brought the Tea Party contingent to its feet in dismay and disbelief. Americans pay a good deal less for government – down to 13.2 percent from 18.1 percent. They were still grumbling as the meeting broke up.

John Pride from Brackett Estates noted that these totals added up to only 90 percent. The missing 10 percent he compared to the cost of administration at the University of Southern Maine.

Rodney Quinn, who died Oct. 27, wrote several columns in advance for publication, which the newspaper will print through the coming weeks.

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