2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: Fifties were a better time. We need to return to a better Democratic Party. [View all]KingFlorez
(12,689 posts)Back then there was more prosperity because the system was rigged to work for whites. If you were not white, then there were few job opportunities and the ones that did exist paid the poor wages. When segregation was phased out, it opened the door for more people which meant that jobs and education became far more competitive. Of course things will be better if you have a smaller percentage of people eligible to participate. Social issues were tied directly to economic issues for minorities back then. Many minorities didn't reach the middle class until long after the 50s.
If you look at another country as an example, look at South Africa. When Apartheid was done away with, a lot of whites lost everything because of unfair advantages no longer being built into the law. A socially rigged economic system is always going to be better prosperity wise.