So, the current owner of (the remnants of) SoF magazine was looking for an old ad last night. While I was perusing the archive today I ran across this. Mel Tappan's, FIRST article in the magazine, in 1980.

Amongst other things, Mel's complaining inflation was out of control, that $3,000 cars cost $7,000 and $20K homes cost $75K. Crime was increasing and terrorisim in Europe was a problem. The economy was in trouble, the national debt at a harrowing 650 billion was going to cause…

The more things change, the more they remain the same – Mel Tappan's 1st article.