01-08-2014, 06:03 AM
By an inflation calculator (the first one I googled), $900 in 1958 is worth just shy of $7400 today. That seems to me to be enough for a one way ticket to Russia. The calculation just takes inflation into account, the relative prices of stuff like boat rides and plane rides is another matter. Back in the day, it was also possible to work off part, or all, of your passage on a slow boat. No idea what kind of passage Oswald bought. If I recall correctly, all tourists were required to buy Intourist "packages" in order to enter the USSR.
It's true that Oswald's knowledge of the fastest way to get into Russia was via Helsinki seems a tad out of his pay grade. I suspect that the word was out on the street about Helsinki. (As an example of how an arcane immigration policy becomes widely known, witness the 2014 influx of tens of thousands of un-accompanied non-english-speaking minors crossing the Rio Grande, and then throwing themselves into the arms of immigration authorities, and asking for a ride to a relative.)
I hope Mr. Dean does reply to this thread. I would love to hear what he wrote in his (unsolicited?) letter to Hoover three days before the assassination...since the image on the internet is unreadable. Be nice to get a first hand account. For a change.
It's true that Oswald's knowledge of the fastest way to get into Russia was via Helsinki seems a tad out of his pay grade. I suspect that the word was out on the street about Helsinki. (As an example of how an arcane immigration policy becomes widely known, witness the 2014 influx of tens of thousands of un-accompanied non-english-speaking minors crossing the Rio Grande, and then throwing themselves into the arms of immigration authorities, and asking for a ride to a relative.)
I hope Mr. Dean does reply to this thread. I would love to hear what he wrote in his (unsolicited?) letter to Hoover three days before the assassination...since the image on the internet is unreadable. Be nice to get a first hand account. For a change.
"All that is necessary for tyranny to succeed is for good men to do nothing." (unknown)
James Tracy: "There is sometimes an undue amount of paranoia among some conspiracy researchers that can contribute to flawed observations and analysis."
Gary Cornwell (Dept. Chief Counsel HSCA): "A fact merely marks the point at which we have agreed to let investigation cease."
Alan Ford: "Just because you believe it, that doesn't make it so."
James Tracy: "There is sometimes an undue amount of paranoia among some conspiracy researchers that can contribute to flawed observations and analysis."
Gary Cornwell (Dept. Chief Counsel HSCA): "A fact merely marks the point at which we have agreed to let investigation cease."
Alan Ford: "Just because you believe it, that doesn't make it so."