America 1950 vs. America 2012
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Would you rather live in the America of 1950 or the America of 2012? Has the United States changed for the better over the last 62 years? Many fondly remember the 1950s and the 1960s as the “golden age” of America. We emerged from World War II as the wealthiest and most powerful nation on the planet. During that time period, just about anyone that wanted to get a job could find a job and the U.S. middle class expanded rapidly. Back in 1950, America was still considered to be a “land of opportunity” and the economy was growing like crazy. There was less crime, there was less divorce, the American people had much less debt and the world seemed a whole lot less crazy. Most of the rest of the world deeply admired us and wanted to be more like us. Of course there were a lot of things that were not great about America back in 1950, and there are many things that many of us dearly love that we would have to give up in order to go back and live during that time. For example, there was no Internet back in 1950. Instead of being able to go online and read the articles that you want to read, your news would have been almost entirely controlled by the big media companies of the day. So there are definitely some advantages that we have today that they did not have back in 1950. But not all of the changes have been for the better. America is in a constant state of change, and many are deeply concerned about where all of these changes are taking us.
There has never been any society in the history of the world that has been perfect. America was flawed in 1950 just as America is flawed today.
But that doesn’t mean that we should not reflect on how much things have changed over the past 62 years.
So which version of America would you rather live in?
America 1950 vs. America 2012 – you make the call….
In 1950, a gallon of gasoline cost about 27 cents.
In 2012, a gallon of gasoline costs $3.69.
In 1950, you could buy a first-class stamp for just 3 cents.
In 2012, a first-class stamp will cost you 45 cents.
In 1950, more than 80 percent of all men were employed.
In 2012, less than 65 percent of all men are employed.
In 1950, the average duration of unemployment was about 12 weeks.
In 2012, the average duration of unemployment is about 40 weeks.
In 1950, the average family spent about 22% of its income on housing.
In 2012, the average family spends about 43% of its income on housing.
In 1950, gum chewing and talking in class were some of the major disciplinary problems in our schools.
In 2012, many of our public schools have been equipped with metal detectors because violence has become so bad.
In 1950, mothers decided what their children would eat for lunch.
In 2012, lunches are inspected by government control freaks to make sure that they contain the “correct foods” in many areas of the country. For example, one 4-year-old girl recently had her lunch confiscated by a “lunch monitor” because it did not meet USDA guidelines….
A preschooler at West Hoke Elementary School ate three chicken nuggets for lunch Jan. 30 because the school told her the lunch her mother packed was not nutritious.
The girl’s turkey and cheese sandwich, banana, potato chips, and apple juice did not meet U.S. Department of Agriculture guidelines, according to the interpretation of the person who was inspecting all lunch boxes in the More at Four classroom that day.
The Division of Child Development and Early Education at the Department of Health and Human Services requires all lunches served in pre-kindergarten programs – including in-home day care centers – to meet USDA guidelines. That means lunches must consist of one serving of meat, one serving of milk, one serving of grain, and two servings of fruit or vegetables, even if the lunches are brought from home.
In 1950, the United States was #1 in GDP per capita.
In 2012, the United States is #13 in GDP per capita.
In 1950, redistribution of wealth was considered to be something that “the communists” did.
In 2012, the U.S. government redistributes more wealth than anyone else in the world.
In 1950, about 13 million Americans had manufacturing jobs.
In 2012, less than 12 million Americans have manufacturing jobs even though our population has more than doubled since 1950.
In 1950, the entire U.S. military was mobilized to protect the borders of South Korea.
In 2012, the U.S. borders with Mexico and Canada are wide open and now there are 1.4 million gang members living inside the United States.
In 1950, there were about 2 million people living in Detroit and it was one of the greatest cities on earth.
In 2012, there are about 700,000 people living in Detroit and it has become a symbol of what is wrong with the U.S. economy.
In 1950, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was slightly over the 200 mark.
In 2012, the Dow Jones Industrial Average is threatening to soar over the 13,000 mark.
In 1950, corporate taxes accounted for about 30 percent of all federal revenue.
In 2012, corporate taxes will account for less than 7 percent of all federal revenue.
In 1950, the median age at first marriage was about 22 for men and about 20 for women.
In 2012, the median age at first marriage is about 28 for men and about 26 for women.
In 1950, many Americans dressed up in suits and dresses before getting on an airplane.
In 2012, security goons look at the exposed forms of our women and our children before they are allowed to get on to an airplane.
In 1950, each retiree’s Social Security benefit was paid for by 16 workers.
In 2012, each retiree’s Social Security benefit is paid for by approximately 3.3 workers.
In 1950, many Americans regularly left their cars and the front doors of their homes unlocked.
In 2012, many Americans live with steel bars on their windows and gun sales are at record highs.
In 1950, the American people had a great love for the U.S. Constitution.
In 2012, if you are “reverent of individual liberty“, you may get labeled as a potential terrorist by the U.S. government.
In 1950, the United States loaned more money to the rest of the world than anybody else.
In 2012, the United States owes more money to the rest of the world than anybody else.
In 1950, the U.S. national debt was about 257 billion dollars.
In 2012, the U.S. national debt is 59 times larger. It is currently sitting at a grand total of $15,435,694,556,033.29. Surely our children and our grandchildren will thank us for that.
One of the only things that is constant in life is change.
Whether we like it or not, America is going to continue to change.
Back in the 1950s and 1960s, about 70 percent of all American adults were married.
Today, only about 50 percent of all American adults are married.
We are more independent, less religious, more addicted to entertainment and more doped up on prescription drugs than Americans used to be.
We have a higher standard of living than Americans in 1950 did, but we are also drowning in an ocean of debt unlike anything the world has ever seen.
For a lot more on how the U.S. economy is doing in 2012, just check out this list of interesting facts.
So is America 2012 a better version than America 1950 was?
Have we made progress since then or are we going backwards?
Please feel free to leave a comment with your thoughts below….
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12:12 pm
In 1950 we did not worry about terroist and il legals crossing the boarder.Better off then
2:56 pm
In the 1950s we were scarred silly by the prospect of a nuclear war with the Soviets. So much so that a buming industry was made out of consturcting bomb shelters. As a kid I had to practice drills by getting under my desk ask if that would save me from a nuke. And the "terrorists" were the kids across town who rode motorcycles, carried chains and wore "pompadore" hair cuts (so we thought).
No I don't want to go back to the '50s (although the '60s were cool).
12:32 pm
i am a korean war vet. i have seen it all and this nation is not in the bible because we are becoming a third world nation because the big money elite has gone global. A NEW WORLD ORDER AS GWB would say it. it says it on your dollar bill. novus ordo seclurum. a new world order. the soup lines are coming. store up goods for the days that are coming. THE CONSTITUTION SAYS AMERICAN TROUPS CANNOT FIRE UPON IT'S OWN PEOPLE so the UN will be used to overpower the constitution to nulligy it. SEMPER FI.
12:36 pm
I'm not sure if the country is better off. On the surface based upon the statistics, no we are not better off. But individuals from certain groups are better off. In the 1950's no way we could have an African American President. Despite his flaws as a leader, he did make history. Another group that gained are women; more women are graduating college than men. Many small business owners are women. Cities, especially large cosmopolitan ones, like NYC are better off as more educated people prefer to live in these.
In fact, the only group that may be worse off are men with no college degree due to the lack of high paying manufacturing type jobs. So depending upon who you are, the country is both worse off and better off at the same time.
10:51 am
Eileen, this is where you aer wrong. We do not have an African American President. He is a Muslim, he is half White & Half Muslim, & he is a communists. We have not had a President for 3 Years & 2 Mo's.. If this thing gets black in office in 2012 we will NEVER get him out. So don't say he is our First Black President. We have yet to have one. Don't try to lower the Blacks to the likes of a MUSLIM.
Ron.
12:42 pm
No, we are not. The diference is destruction of the American family and it's core values. We must restore the family.
5:11 pm
What destroyed the American family was the ability for women to get jobs and support themselves and their children. They no longer had to tolerate anything a man decided to do to them and their children. In other words, mistreatment and the ability to escape mistreatment broke the family up. I say families are in better shape now than ever, and that in another generation, men will treat their families with respect to keep them.
9:59 pm
You're so full of S**t if you think today's families are better off than those in the 50's. They may have more money and 'things', but they have so much less true family interaction and parents that had real time to spend with their children. Also, most of the families that I knew had more things to do around home to help out than now seems to be the case. School and school activities did not consume our whole day as they now seem to do. Yet we were educated well enough to go to college and prepare for life's challenges.
12:48 pm
Correction! The Canadian and Mexican borders were far more open in 1950 than in 2012 and US gangs have multiplied anyway! Could it possibly be because US poverty levels and prison populations are now the highest per capita in the western world and are multiples of the 1950 levels.
12:54 pm
I lived in the 50's; I'd take that time over any other time including 2012.
5:12 pm
I lived in the 50s. I'll take this time over that one.
1:03 pm
And a lot less white.. Do you think this is part of the problem..
1:04 pm
Despite all the trending negative stats caused by a changing of the goal posts, the quality of life for almost every American is better today than in 1950 when there was still rationing of certain items.
Can we do better today for the next generation? yup. That's why choosing carefully who to vote for in November is so important — having 3rd parties makes decisions for you in remote government offices — or making your own choices for you and your family with many fewer restrictions than we already have. That is the choice — it is not as clear as voting for a Repub or Democrat — rather what does the person asking for your vote believe in? You gotta ask the question.
1:17 pm
American politicians are becoming so blind and deaf .Despite the actual problem in their country ,they are still policing the world .Its about time for the American to reflec whats going to be in the next 20 years.They are becoming war mongers,interfering in others business, trying to protect what , from foreign invasion (lol). but unfortunately they are not aware that they are sitting on the bigest and most powerfulr bomb ie the economic castastrophic which wii soon explode ,may Aallah (God) help. Unless they change their attitude tawords others and concentrate more on their on country.
1:18 pm
Well, I was born here in New York. There are too many things to list that were better then than now. America now is disgraceful. The bad element of people that were allowed to enter this country starting in the 70's have brought it down to to uncivilized level of the countries they came from. I'm getting myself upset just thinking about the disheveled state of America. Well, you get the idea how I feel.
1:26 pm
im 80 years old and i lived through the 50 and 60,s i will tell you we were better off in the 50 and 60, un til the last 30 years i never had a house key i could ride in the back of a pick up i didnt know what a seat belt was til i road on a n air plane i was proud to go and fight for my country many many things are worse now
2:07 pm
John: The U.S. is mentioned in the Bible! Eileen: Your kidding right: Women have become a little dab of Meat, and more blacks are without a job, and something to eat than ever before. Loyal
2:15 pm
Well I would certainly say that the country as a whole was MUCH better off in 1950 compared to 2012. Doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that one out!! I am thankful for my country and my family has been in this country and fought in every war since before the 1st Amercian Revolution up until now. I can say that the family and our local communities have suffered the most and have been the backbone of our great nation. May we get back to loving God first and then country and repent and maybe the good Lord will have mercy on us and we can prosper once again!!
2:16 pm
In 1950 Gold was $34.72 per ounce. In February 2012 Gold is $1775.00 per ounce.
3:00 pm
Well I say go dig some gold!! But yes give me the fifties thank you……..too many wackos around today.
3:33 pm
As a country, we need to do something about the deficit. The other thing the article does not address the size of our government and the astronomical cost of getting elected. There is a need to do something about that and lobbyists spending $$$ to "influence" politicians.
3:36 pm
Well first off comparing 2012 to 1950 is off a bit. We just came off two questionable wars and an economic collapse of the financial system, one due to politics and the other due to private sector speculation. It would be closer to comparing it to America after WW1 during the great depression. And remember while as a whole the country seemed safer in 1950' the threat of nuclear war soon reduced that sense of security. Comparing the threats of uneducated religious extremist to a sophisticated and capable superpower seems a bit much. Also we were less informed of true dangers that were apparent even back then than we are now in the 24/7 news and twitter world. Also don't forget the lack of civil rights for minorities and women were less represented in the work force, expected to stay home and the family could afford it. On the other hand, there was Less global competition for american goods, corporations actually tried to make products and not just profits. The government built national infrastructure for the common good (that's not a communist concept) and planned for the future by putting aside a highway trust fund (whatever happened to that). The Feds understood the importance of free market and competition for the national good but also understood that ponzi schemes and complex financial deals that allowed a few to become super rich while destroying the economic engine was more dangerous than socialist ideals and that maybe through regulation, tax incentives and over site we could keep a reign on the overriding power of monied interests to, once again, strengthen the country as a whole and not just benefit the few. Yes, 1950 was an ideal time. We had just defeated true evil that had ravaged the rest of the modern world and emerged virtually leading in every respect. But the comparison is not even close to the conditions leading to today. And remember, in 1950 our respective parties were more interested in working together to overcome differences for the common good and not bent on destroying each other at all costs
5:15 pm
White men were safer. White women were chattel property of white men. I do agree that 1950 is inappropriate, more like the 1930s after the prior crash created by the banksters. Too bad the feds deregulated them so we could go back to the crash economy.
5:39 pm
no comment
5:40 pm
no
5:40 pm
to what?
5:40 pm
Give the good old days. The media still is biase and does not report the news any more it makes its own news. People need to quit being lazy and read between the lines and do not believe something just because some one on the TV or Rafdio says so. The internet and cell phones are wonderful but we managed to live without them now we are raising a generation that can not function without their cell phones
7:20 pm
Really? Really you would want to go back to the '50's? Never mind the polio, the tuberculosis, the fluenza out breaks? The phoney Communist scare that made kids learn how to 'duck'n cover' because the world lived under the constant threat of nuclear war? A war hero President warning us but being ignored about the threat of the growing influence of war mongering being promoted by a growing and now over-powering military/industrial alliance? Of course the language was more colorful with words like chinks, red skins, spics, daegos, shines, wops and that classic, 'niggers'. It was a time when 'those people' knew to keep in their place and to help them the South had the poll taxes to keep them from voting. Great times with the food poisoning outbreaks and abestos being used in our places of work as well as our homes so we could breath it in with the tobaccy smoke and the pollutants from our cars.
9:35 pm
Are you serious? How could anyone ask that question? I'm a woman! In 1950, I couldn't have gotten a mortgage unless I was married. When I got my first mortgage, I had to find a mortgage I could assume. If I had gotten pregnant, I likely would have been fired as soon as it became evident. There was no effective birth control. If you wanted an abortion, you had to get one illegally. Yes, everything costs more today, but my lifestyle is far better and richer than my parents. I am much wealthier than my parents were. Moreover, today average citizens have televisions, internet, cell phones, microwaves, dishwashers, washers and dryers. When I was young, average people didn't have any of those things. They were lucky if they had one car!
9:50 pm
I guess I am still in shock over the question! In 1950, an average family didn't have health insurance. If you were elderly and broke your hip or needed a new hip or a new knee, there was no such thing. You were in a wheelchair for the rest of your life. If you had cataracts, you remained blind! If we went to war, all healthy men pretty much had to go. There was no volunteer army. We had a floor furnace in the center of the house. The bedroom and bathrooms were freezing cold. The average family did not have central air conditioning. The businesses did not have air conditioning! I could go on and on. Those of you who are thinking that you want to go back to the 1950's, you all need to reflect on how good we have it today, and thank God for all the inventions and advancements that He has given us.
9:54 pm
We are never going to be able to get ahead if we constantly remind ourselves of how far down the crapper we are. Yes this time frame sucks, but I'm sure a lot of the 50's time frames sucked too. What do you think the future will be like? Do you think in50, or 60 years someone looking back will remember that there were some really great and memorable moments. Or that we as a population got through the problems, we are a world progressing. We have to teach ourselves to leave things alone, it really will be up to us, the public to fix things.
My suggestion is to start with the politicians- when they can live like the poorest of us, or live on our paychecks without extras, maybe then we'll consider them worthy of our useless votes.
10:29 pm
iy seems we are only getting in a worse shape. the 1950's we had god in our life now we have the dollar to worship.we are in deep trouble.
sam
2:00 am
I grew up in the 50's and 60's. I'll take them any day. I do like the internet thought. Not everything is bad now,
but all an all the 50's and 60's were better.
2:19 am
The main reason I would take today is the racism everyone experienced,only WASP really knew how good they had it,and abused thier position,thus came the sixties-seventies,unfortunately the 80´s -90´s came withe coke,the end of America as we knew it-now its back to the future time,lets just pick the good values.
Good Luck All
5:24 am
Rebecca needs help!
9:37 am
Too funny!! Did anyone compare salaries!! Did anyone compare the chance of surviving cancer/heart disease? Did anyone compare the percentage of college graduates???
I feel so sorry for people who think we should go back to the good old days. I lived during the '50! Let's live to enjoy our little time on this great Earth living in the BEST country in the world!!
Keep your negative thoughts to yourself!!!!
12:22 pm
Did the author even bother to adjust he cost of gasoline and stamps in 1950 by inflation to see what it would be today? In fact adjusted for inflation gas prices are lower today than in 1950. The reason for so many bad changes in America such as gangs and school violence comes from the change in immigration laws in1965. We imported the backwards cultures of countries that we never had people immigrate from before. But you can't mention this in polite company.
12:58 pm
"The children now love luxury. They have bad manners, contempt for authority, they show disrespect to their elders…. They no longer rise when elders enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up dainties at the table, cross their legs, and are tyrants over their teachers."
–Aristotle
On a personal note, shouldn't some of you be outside yelling at clouds right now?
1:28 pm
I'm too young to remember the 50's, but if I had a Time Machine, I would at least like to visit!
8:25 pm
Right Scott: And what happened next, good bye Greek. I think your right the sky is falling.
6:54 am
I dont think so people tend to stay the same and american's haven't changed much the only real difference is everything is more out in open and not some skeleton in the closet on american social front and family front.. Economically i believe that the golden age was precursor to what is going on now.. things were going so great in 50's and 60s business got a taste of the growth and hungered more and more for higher profit instead of being satisfied with making 200% profit they wanted 3000%. where they had to sacrifice other things ( worker benefits, quality of mercandise, etc) . One major change is the world has several billion more people and their is more than just americans looking for the "________dream" now there are a billion plus Indians and Chinese and many other developing countries who looking for what we had and have. Population has doubled in us so more resources being pulled at within the country.. world keeps changing but the us keeps holding on to a time period that was good for us THEN but we have to change for the world NOW. We can get back to it in a modern world just going to be a lot of social economic and letting go of the past (but still be able to look back and learn from for today)