In 2014 it's hard to imagine an economist who is unaware of the concept of inflation or the Consumer Price Index. Yet letter writer and Loyala University of Maryland professor Stephen J.K. Walters still doesn't get it ("Rodricks finds the wrong villain in Ebola research debate," Oct. 21).
Mr. Walters claims the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention budget grew a mighty 5 percent between 2004 and 2013, from $28 billion to $29.3 billion.
But during that time the CPI went up by 24 percent. A CDC budget that kept up with inflation would have grown from $28 billion in 2004 to $34.7 billion over the same period.
Maybe Loyola's professor needs a refresher course.
Mark Benson, Baltimore