12/00Ratio of the number of bushels of wheat one barrel of oil could buy in 1950 to the number it could buy today: 1:10

International Monetary Fund (N.Y.C.)/Worldwatch Institute (Washington)

4/86Percentage of Democrats in 1955 who were black: 10

Prof. John Petrocik (University of California at Los Angeles)

    Today: 20

Prof. John Petrocik (University of California at Los Angeles)

6/89Average ratio of students to teachers in an American public school classroom in 1955: 27:1

U.S. Department of Education

    Average ratio today: 18:1

U.S. Department of Education

12/86Mental disorders recognized by the American Psychiatric Association in 1952: 110

American Psychiatric Association (Washington, D.C.)

    Today: 210

American Psychiatric Association (Washington, D.C.)

4/86Percentage of Republicans in 1955 who were white Southerners: 10

Prof. John Petrocik (University of California at Los Angeles)

    Today: 33

Prof. John Petrocik (University of California at Los Angeles)