I would've loved to go to college and buy a home during those time periods. Please don't act like it's the same as nowadays. Sure, there were struggles but the dollar was simply worth much more, education was much cheaper, and a house cost way less than it does now.
The post-WWII economy boom was the best time to be middle class. When else could you get an education for almost nothing and a house with a single income? Admittedly, we’re reaping what we’ve sown with regards to things like the automobile and suburban sprawl, but overall it used to be way easier to actually survive. Even the Great Depression saw the New Deal. What such hope do we have today? Who’s coming to save us?
We like to think we do, but we don’t live in unique times.