The affluence after the wars and growth in manufacturing/jobs were made possible by the US being able to export huge amounts of goods. Europe's own manufacturing economy was heavily damaged by WWII. We supplied much of the goods and machinery for their rebuild. We were also able to sell into third world countries. Our GDP and exports were astounding and fueled decades of wealth for the US - jobs for all and government programs to help those in need. We no longer have that market. Indeed, its now the newly developed countries "turn" to have the market advantage. The only way we are going to "create" manufacturing jobs here is to "buy American". Every item we buy made overseas fuels their economy at the expense of ours. So use your smarts: buy local and figure out how to manufacturer here for less. Give future generations a reason to remember us with nostalga.
(Sorry if this got a little off-topic)

Stephanie Coontz's analogies are not symetric on any level. Her statements make as much much sense as my summary of her: she would probably flunk an IQ test. As for the presidential candidates, they are not too swift either but most of the electorate already knows that.

There are two kinds of people in the world. Those who are curious to learn new things and rethink their assumptions and those who integrate everything they see and read into their already formed and frigid opinions. Which are you?

The only quetion that you need to ask is, are we as a people better than pioneer or 50s families were, i think not. Ms Coontz cannot reinvent the word nostalgia into a negative.

My husband had four uncles, all of which were able to attend college through the GI bill. Even though they were poor, two were able to become teachers with masters degrees, one a college professor in labor relations, and one a PHD in plant pathology! Throughout their lifetimes they contributed so much more than what they would ever been able to do without the government's assistance.

Who's Mrs. Coontz??? Why is she being quoted???

Just one more person looking for their 15 minutes of fame while spouting absolute garbage..... Of those people who were "given" so much many were, I'm sure, veterans of WWII. They and their families gave their all in sacrifice to serve this country. If the country in turn sent them to college so they could better support their families, I say good for them. As far as the pioneers, they sacrificed also. I wouldn't want to live the life of a pioneer for all the tea in China. Imagine all the hot, dusty days on the trail traveling in a wagon. Then at night they got to sleep on the hard ground, very comfy!! After settling, came back-breaking work to settle the land they got at such a reaonable price per Ms. Coontz. I say they more than earned it with the sweat of their brow. Ms. Coontz should be ashamed.

Ms. Coontz never said the GIs didn't deserve the GI bill or that the pioneer families shouldn't have benefited from government spending on railroads, dams and irrigation systems. I think she'd argue in both cases it was smart public policy. Her point was candidates mythologize those eras as times when Americans didn't need government spending, conveniently forgetting how that spending was key to helping those generations and building this country.

Very strange...all I can think about when I read this is Jane Fonda.