One thing the last four decades has shown us is that when money loses half its value it takes twice as much.
Take a gander at this chart showing the value of our currency falling that Robert Sahr made using data based on the consumer price index.
http://oregonstate.edu/cla/polisci/price-levels-and-us-economy
See the little bumps caused during early times of war? They were caused by the introduction of fiat money into the system. It now looks like they are at war with all of us.
We all have or own personal gripes on spending over the past several decades. That expenditure has devalued or currency and naturally it takes more to buy the same amount of stock, services, or other commodities.
Now think back to recent history. Can you imagine just what the spending to bail out the banks, the car companies, and health care for all is going to do to the value of our currency and the price of stock?
How about the very real taxes on those imaginary capital gains!
