Arithmetic Lesson for Robert Samuelson

In a piece that supported imposing a Buffet-rule type tax on the wealthy, Robert Samuelson explained the growing income share of the 1 percent in part on the booming stock market. He told readers:

"From 1980 to 2000, stocks rose almost tenfold; from 2000 to 2007, the gain was about 40 percent."

While the first part is roughly correct, the S&P 500 rose by just 3.5 percent from 2000 to 2007. According to his source, it averaged 1427.22 in 2000. Its average close in 2007 was 1477.19.

It's good t...