What caused it?
Around the mid 60s everyone just kind of decided they should have things they want without paying for it, and that somehow it would work out.
Free love and easy divorce without it affecting family formation.
Drug use without social dysfunction.
Gov spending without taxes, or at least with other peoples taxes.
A war in Vietnam where rich kids get deferments.
Fed money rather then balanced budgets.
Loose on crime laws without getting more crime.
Solving racial divisions not by changing hearts but government dictate.
Labor unions wanting better and better terms even as the products they were making were getting worse and worse.
Just an incredible explosion of lack of responsibility.
While the 1947-1965 period was certainly unusually upwardly mobile and with large amounts of economic growth for the 20th century, I'm not sure it would have been unusual by 19th century standards.
Around the mid 60s everyone just kind of decided they should have things they want without paying for it, and that somehow it would work out.
Free love and easy divorce without it affecting family formation.
Drug use without social dysfunction.
Gov spending without taxes, or at least with other peoples taxes.
A war in Vietnam where rich kids get deferments.
Fed money rather then balanced budgets.
Loose on crime laws without getting more crime.
Solving racial divisions not by changing hearts but government dictate.
Labor unions wanting better and better terms even as the products they were making were getting worse and worse.
Just an incredible explosion of lack of responsibility.
While the 1947-1965 period was certainly unusually upwardly mobile and with large amounts of economic growth for the 20th century, I'm not sure it would have been unusual by 19th century standards.