A BETTER GALLON OF MILK.

A BETTER GALLON OF MILK. I think Ezra was right the other day — it�s silly to expect Rudy Giuliani to know the price of a gallon of milk. For one thing, he�s an empty-nester who might not even buy milk. For another, if he does, he or Judy undoubtedly buys it at a Korean deli on the Upper East Side, where it�s easily north of $4 and, if organic or grass-fed or something like that, probably closer to $7. So he could have given an entirely truthful answer that would have seemed, to his questioner, insanely �out of touch.�

However, there are some things presidential candidates ought to be able to attach a number to, aren�t there? Here are 10, for starters, that I think a candidate kinda sorta oughta have a handle on. If you�re like me you�ll be close on some and pretty far off on others, but then, we�re not running for president:

1. The median U.S. household income.

2. The median salary of a schoolteacher (chart gives a range).

3. The median salary of an active-duty enlisted soldier (table gives a range).

4. The average yearly cost of a family health-care plan (see fourth graf).

5. The cost of an average American car, a standard-equipment Chevy Malibu (on this page, select �Base� style and fill in your ZIP Code).

6. Average cost of a four-year college education including tuition, fees, room, and board at a public university (2005 figures; see third graf and multiply by four).

7. The unit cost of an Army Black Hawk helicopter (see �Overview�).

8. How much the United States pays every year to farmers who don�t farm.

9. How many billions� worth of weapons the United States sells to other countries (2005 figures).

10. Number of articles in the U.S. Constitution.

I�m sure you have thoughts on these, and your own ideas. Pile on!

–Michael Tomasky