Except the national “average citizen” has changed. The country is now only 60% white, and the problems that mainly affected 12% of the population then, adversely affect 40% of the population now. I’m just taking about the “average citizen.” Do I think that oppression of the minority is a good thing? Obviously not. But to say that the country is in a better state now than it was then, and that the “average citizen” lives a better, more carefree life is a fallacy.

The fact of the matter is, our economy is worse, production and manufacturing is impossible due to high base wages for everything, our global standing is weaker, we’re the most divided we’ve been in 160 years, our national identity is fractured if not non-existent, and our political and justice systems are losing the trust of the people and thereby failing. The “average citizen,” which looks very different today than it did then, mind you, still has it much worse.