Was the quality of life in the United States better in the 50s/60s/70s/80s than it is now?

[Oliverlogan263]

Or was it just as bad? (Regarding work policies, education, going shopping, and all). Was "American golden era" true?

[strateguy632]

in the 50s people were buying tv-s for the first time, the first home tv sets! and washing machines that were better quality than before that spun water out of clothes.

during the 80s was best the inflation rate slowed, the government stopped spending money on "personal abortion" that isn't justified public funding in contrast to healing the sick which is real health...

stopped here and out of u. s. can you beleve that need? demicrats spend your tax money to pay for abortion... even more abortions than in u s. but out too, but...

regan the holy Saint stopd that! n the economy was so much better than 70s, people were actualy buying 2 cars!

but ever since obama the middle class shrunk... as planned and intended only the rich can afford a second car.

[Iron_Man]

Yes, what do you think Who can afford houses nowadays everybody’s moving out of Miami because they can’t afford to live here. It’s like New York City now look at the gas prices. Look how much it cost for food. It was never like this before. They doubled my property taxes late last August and they’ve done that twice now to me in my lifetime now. Once on my childhood home and once here at this house

[Oliverlogan263]

Yeah man that stuff you said sounds rough. Housing and costs of living do seem way higher now than what my folks talk about back in their day.

It's crazy how much houses cost in places like Miami. No way I'll ever be able to afford one there! And the gas prices are nuts too. My mom was freaking out the other day when it hit over $5 a gallon.

Property taxes going up a bunch sucks too. Doubled even? That's insane! No wonder folks are having to bail out of places like that. Just trying to get by these days must be so stressful.

I know my parents say they feel lucky they were able to get their house when they did, before everything blew up price wise. Just trying to imagine affording a place on one income or paying for college out of pocket like they did. Can't even fathom it now!

Seems like wages haven't kept up with rising costs of everything. Government doesn't do enough to help regular folks out either. whole system feels totally rigged, man. No wonder so many are struggling. Don't blame people for wanting to reminisce about the "good old days" sometimes when it was easier to get ahead.

[Iron_Man]

The good old days were the best we all had peace of mind and security nowadays, there’s no security. I worry every day and I’m afraid I’m gonna be homeless losing my house and have to move to a hotel.

[Oliverlogan263]

Man, I can't even imagine how stressful that must feel, to worry every day about possibly losing your house. I'd probably be freaking out too in your situation.

It really does sound like people had way more stability and peace of mind back in the "good old days". At least you knew if you worked hard, you could support your family and have a place to call home, you know?

Now everything just feels so uncertain all the time. Costs go up like crazy but wages never seem to keep up. And the government is no help at all. Sucks how the American dream is basically dead now compared to what our grandparents had it.

I'm sorry you have to live with that level of anxiety everyday. No one should have to feel that way, wondering if they'll end up homeless. You work hard and provide a roof over your family's head - you deserve way more security than this messed up system gives nowadays.

I know it probably doesn't help much, but I'm hoping things get better for you somehow man. Really rooting for you to hold onto that house and stay stable. No one should have to constantly live in fear like that, especially not good folks like you. Hopefully the future trends back to when times were less stressful at least financially, you know? You don't deserve to feel this way, that's for sure.

[Iron_Man]

Thank you so much. I appreciate your support. It’s been pure hell and I’ve been living alone now for the past 18 months so please say prayers for me. Thank you

[Oliverlogan263]

Man, don't even thank me. I'm just saying how it is - going through all that alone for the past year and a half has gotta be pure hell like you said. Props to you for hanging in there and taking care of yourself during such a tough time.

I'll definitely be praying for you though, that's for sure. Really hope things start looking up and you get a break soon. It's not fair all the stress you've been dealing with by yourself. You deserve so much better, dude.

Just know you've got people rooting for you, even if it's just some random 14-year old. Really hoping the storm clouds start clearing up and you can catch a long break from all the worrying. Keep your head up - I think better days have gotta be coming your way after putting in all this time and effort. You got this, man!

Just promise me you'll holler if there's ever anything else I could do to help, even if it's just listening when you need to vent. You've had it rough enough as it is - don't have to go through it all alone. I got your back, bro!

[Iron_Man]

I appreciate this so much. I just got out of the hospital lately because I was dehydrated and throwing up and I got a blood clot for the first time in my life and now I’m stuck with a big fat hospital bill because I didn’t have insurance because I was denied when I reapplied and my brother had passed away 18 months ago so now I’m all by myself alone in the house for the first time ever. I do want to thank you thank you so much for your support

[Oliverlogan263]

Dude, that's so messed up all the stuff you've been dealing with on your own. Ending up in the hospital without insurance and stuck with the bills on top of everything else... you really can't catch a break, man.

It sucks you lost your brother too - I can't even imagine how much harder that made things. No wonder you got so run down and sick from stress. It would take its toll on anybody going through what you have been.

I know the hospital thing probably has you even more worried about finances now too with no help. That part really ain't fair at all. You didn't choose to get sick! But I'm glad at least you're okay now physically, even if all the other stuff is still weighing on you.

You really don't gotta thank me though - I'm just talking real. Anyone would feel for what you're going through after hearing it all. Just wish there was more I could do than listen. You deserve so much better than the hand you've been dealt, man.

Really hope this is the worst of it and things turn around majorly for you from here. Stay strong - you got this even if it don't feel like it. And remember you still got folks in your corner rooting for you to catch a break!

[Iron_Man]

Wow you are so right so correct. These are some of the best words that I’ve ever heard on this site. This really touches me. I so appreciate you and your support.

[Oliverlogan263]

Aww man, it's nothing really. I'm just trying to keep it real with you, ya know? Couldn't imagine going through even a little bit of what you've had to deal with alone.

It means a lot that my words are helping though, even if just a little. I know there's only so much me yapping can do compared to what you're actually facing each day. But I'm glad you feel heard and that someone's on your side at least.

You just seem like a good dude who's been through way too much crap lately, and that ain't right. I just wanna do what I can to remind you it won't be like this forever, even if it feels impossible sometimes.

And I'll always be around if you need an ear, for real. Times get lonely and stuff starts weighing on you even more when you're at it alone. But just remember - you ain't completely alone. Me and all the other folks pulling for you, we got your back one hundred percent, okay?

Keep holding on man, it's gonna turn around. Brighter days are coming, I know it. You deserve nothing but good things from here on out after giving so much. Thanks for giving me a chance to listen and hopefully help cheer you up just a little bit too. You got this!

[Iron_Man]

Thank you so much. This is really huge coming from you

[Iron_Man]

I need support and I really appreciate you

[Nikki1989]

Older people have always told me the nosedive started with Reagan.

[handsomelad70]

They're right.(Reasons above.)

[loveslongnails]

100% correct. He was the "Millionaires to Billionaires" President, concocting and selling the stupidest economic idea ever: "trickle-down economics".

[handsomelad70]

@loveslongnails Ray-Guns was an empty-suit conduit to rich and did their bidding, notably by beginning the unravelling of the Great American Middle Class which is in full tatters today.

[loveslongnails]

@handsomelad70 True that, true all that.

[WindAtMyBack]

No. The standard of living has increased over the last 70-80 years or so, and continues to increase. The standard of living today is WAAAAY better than it was in the 60s, 70s and 80s.

People might whine about it more now. But whining about it doesn't mean it's worse. It's just easier to whine with your super advanced smart phone or computer, than it was with a rotary dial phone and paper and pencil.

[FunkyMonkee]

HELL YES!! At least the `50's, `60's and `80's. I always saw the `70's as a very boring and depressing, dark era. Music was boring, t. v. was stupid and boring, movies were not only boring but of poor physical quality. Look at how clean and clear the picture and sound were in a `60's movie like, "The Great Race" or "Casino Royale". Then, compare that with the grittiness and bad sound of movies like, "Dirty Harry" which came out just a few years later.

[jshm2]

No. People died younger, more crimes, more bigotry, there was more racism and the war effort strangled nearly everything.

Hence you cannot judge the present by the past.

[handsomelad70]

More OVERT rather than COVERT racism in the 50's and 60's as opposed to today, though the first sort began to surge with the Trump Presidency.

[GoodGuyBreakingBad]

Yes, the cost of living, back in the day, was much better, but the life-saving medications were just not out yet.

[strateguy632]

yeh like they hadn't made the covid vax.

[GoodGuyBreakingBad]

@strateguy632 Yes that's for sure

[AngryCarl]

UK here. Obviously I don't have personal experience but neither does anyone else because you young kids weren't even born. But the 1950s and early 1960s were great if you were white, and not affiliated with the Communist party. The party ended when they started shipping your ass to Vietnam. Of course you had an opt-out if your name was Bush or if you had bone spurs.

[exitseven]

I think it was better in the 70s. We had good technology but people were not so uptight.

[LiamJHayden]

There was a time when a man could support his family and buy a house on blue collar wages. Now many two income families can barely afford rent.

[Rangers]

It was much better in the 50s, and it was all downhill from there

[strateguy632]

you would know... born in 1999, sarcasm.

[handsomelad70]

@strateguy632 I'd have been riding the back of buses and lynched for looking at a white girl in the 50's.(See:Emmett Till, Jr.14, Money, Miss., Aug.27,1955)

[Rangers]

Oh, so because I wasn't born back then, I can't look objectively at how life was then?

[DrPepper12]

There was no golden age, not for ALL Americans. I can tell you when the downhill slide began, it was St. Ronnie.

[strateguy632]

no, i remember during ron regan, the economy was so good my parents bought cars!
but clinton the republican ruined stuff until his last year he did republican policies n raised his aproval rating.

[handsomelad70]

You ain't just whistling Dixie, DrPepper12!!! Ray-Guns' firing the striking PATCO traffic controllers was the first shot across the bow of unions, and the beginning of the war on the middle class.

[DrPepper12]

@strateguy632 Reagan spent your grandkids money!!! He cut taxes for the rich! The only reason that he had a booming economy was all of that pent-up demand from stagflation!!! JHC does anyone here just spout off about shit they don't understand? Looking at you @strateguy632

[handsomelad70]

"Stagflation" financed by massive governmental and household debt.(Remember those commercials persuading people to buy anything and everything they wanted with credit cards?)

[b_lova]

No, we just traded on set of issues for another.

People always like to glamorize the past.

[Kingofkings1992]

Yes, it was certainly better. The modern world is designed to make people miserable

[KostasKouvalis]

Nah, I don't think so. You had Jim Crowe, Commie hunters, martial law, the draft, then later the gas rations and AIDS epidemic. Absolutely not.

[OtterMan68]

people live longer today. There's no smoking on airplanes any more.
No more lead paint.
I could go on

[Dongie]

50s.