Fifties were a better time. We need to return to a better Democratic Party.

[denverbill]

11. In the 1950's, the US led the world in virtually everything.

Education, per capita income, standard of living, GDP, etc. That was when the top tax rate was at least 70% and unions were very strong. Almost all workers had pensions. Important things like schools, bus services, road construction, prisons, etc were done by the government. Instead of the primary motivation for these services being a profit, the primary motivation was doing the best job possible for the people. Now instead of the primary motivation for schools to be getting every student the best education possible, the primary motivation is to privatize as many schools as possible so that someone can make a profit on those education dollars, regardless of the quality of education. Whereas prisons used to exist to actually try to rehabilitate offenders and try to keep them from returning to prison, now the goal is to keep them imprisoned as long as possible so that profits will be maximized and get them back in as soon as possible after they are released. We used to regulate TV and radio to be balanced and required them to operate in the public interest, not just to maximize their profits by running popular but harmful drivel. No station ran hate-filled right-wing propagandists 24 hours a day. We didn't appoint drug company executives to regulate the drug companies or chemical company executives to man the USDA. Government agencies actually did their jobs regulated.

Frankly I don't see much hope of ever getting back to that state. The wealthy and their minions have completely usurped government in America and with the media on their side, I don't think we will ever get it back.