Economic prosperity, low unemployment, less intrusive govt, sane energy policy, no ben bernake printing press.
That's what I say! And from what I understand, the 1950's were great times in America. Shitbags like rcg would have hated the 50's as the theme back then was common sense, and doing the right thing.
good times for you white boys, kind of shitty for those of us trying to use the public park or go to the library, let alone getting a seat on the bus
People would have money of their own to spend as opposed to spending their hard working neighbors money.
You know, I was thinking about that just the other day. What if Lincoln had let the Confederacy be? Despite history revisionists attempts to change it, the war was in fact fought to restore the union, not end slavery per se. I think it's fair to say slavery as an institution would have died out on it's own within, say two decades at most. Lets say there was no war, no 620,000 + deaths, no burning and mass destruction of the south. With no war, there would have been no reconstruction period, no carpet baggers. But most importantly, no severe animosity for the north or the former slaves by those in the south. With that in mind Jim Crow laws and segregation might never have happened. And even if so, certainly not to the extent they did. Imagine no civil rights struggle, no riots in the 60's. All IMO, a very plausible possibility. If only Lincoln had been willing to let well enough alone.
1950's top tax rates were 90+%, and dramatically higher compared with today. Nice chart: http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2011/04/us-tax-rates-1916-2010/ Maybe AK can make it post up?