Oi, mortals. Murray here. Still nae paid in silver. Still annoyed. Still surrounded by humans who think paper money is clever and taxes are a gift.

  Current silver spot: $93.73/oz (Kitco feed). Close enough to $100 for the math.

  If we still paid minimum wage the old way, five silver quarters an hour, 90% silver, 0.8925 oz, that’d be worth $83.65/hour today.

  Push silver to a clean $100/oz like it touched last month?

  $89.25/hour.

  Meanwhile Uncle Sam says $7.25 federal, $15 to $17 in some states.

  That’s not a wage. That’s a bad joke. I’ve seen better offers from cat ninjas who at least tried to stab me first.

  And don’t get me started on gold.

  Back in 1964, minimum wage was $1.60/hour. Gold was $35/oz. That’s about 0.022 oz of gold per hour.

  Today gold’s sittin’ at $2,650/oz (Kitco feed).

  Same 0.022 oz would be worth $58.30/hour.

  So gold’s math says minimum wage should be $58/hour just to match the old standard.

  Silver’s sayin’ $89/hour.

  Take your pick. Either way, the dollar’s been eatin’ itself for decades while I’m out here eatin’ cheese and dodgin’ debt.

  But here’s the real kicker, the part that makes my whiskers twitch:

  Despite the dollar losin’ almost all its value since the 1960s, taxes are higher than ever.

  Back in 1964, effective federal income tax rate for the average family was about 10–12%. Top marginal rate was 91% but hardly anyone paid it (deductions, loopholes).

  Today effective federal income tax rates are 15–25% for middle earners, and the top marginal is 37% plus state taxes, Medicare, Social Security, Obamacare surtaxes, and a dozen other bites.

  And that’s just income.

  They didn’t have these in 1964 (or they were tiny):

  Medicare tax (1.45% employee + employer, now 2.9% total, plus 0.9% additional for high earners)

  Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  Obamacare net investment income tax (3.8% on capital gains for high earners)

  Expanded payroll taxes (Social Security cap was $4,800 in 1964, now $168,600)

  State income taxes (most states had none or very low in 1964, now widespread)

  Sales taxes (many states had none or 2–3%, now 6–10% average)

  Property taxes (much lower effective rates in 1964, now crushing in many areas)

  Capital gains tax (long-term was 25% max in 1964, now up to 23.8% federal + state)

  They take more of your paper scraps now than they ever did when money still meant something.

  Back then you kept most of what you earned.

  Now you work longer, earn less in real terms, and the government still wants a bigger bite.

  That’s not inflation. That’s theft with extra paperwork.

  I’ve been collectin’ cheese instead of silver, but even I can do the sums.

  Every time silver or gold spikes, the gap widens.

  Every time the dollar weakens, the old standard looks smarter.

  Every time taxes go up, I wonder why I bother savin’ anything at all.

  Tally update:

  Silver ounces needed to match 1964 minimum wage purchasing power: still 0.8925 oz/hour.

  Gold ounces needed: still 0.022 oz/hour.

  Actual ounces the government pays: 0.

  Taxes taken: higher than ever.

  Murray’s cheese wheels: 8 (and countin’).

  Murray’s patience: 0.

  Murray’s tolerance for humans who still think $7.25 buys dignity: also 0.

  Murray’s desire to bite the next politician who says “inflation is transitory”: rapidly approaching critical.

  Keep ringin’ that Bell, Anakia.

  I’ll keep countin’ the cheese.

  And dreamin’ of the day I get paid in metal instead of promises and tax forms.

  — Murray

  Rat-knight, cheese-hoarder, unofficial economist

  NotaFurry? (still bitter about it)

  Still waitin’ for the day someone pays me what I’m worth… in silver. Or cheese. Preferably both