re: #222 Gus

Notice the downward trajectory which begins in 2004.

Yep, which rather nicely coincides not only with the metamorphosing of the Afghan and Iraq Wars into long occupations, but also the beginning of the Housing Bust. Both took a great deal money out of the economy, the former by taking funds that could have gone to items like infrastructure repair/improvement and sending it overseas for nation-building, the latter by getting people chained to houses they’d eventually not be able to sell once the housing market went bust.