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host, I agree with much of your analysis and especially the post WWII situation. I was a child in the '50s living in a middle class neighborhood and most families had multiple children and made out very well on one income and most had blue collar jobs. Many if not most of these jobs had good pensions, benefits, and medical insurance included.
In Halberstams's book "The Fifties" he details the growth of many industries during this time which would not have been possible if workers couldn't afford new homes, appliances, TVs, cars, etc... It seems that having a well paid middle class actually enables the rich to get richer and creates many opportunities for new businesses.
I'm afraid there is little loyalty among companies and workers nowadays and our retirement and medical benefits are slowly being eliminated from company offerings. I don't think my WWII generation father even heard the term "downsizing". Of course the world has caught up somewhat, and back then most of the stuff coming out of Japan, etc.. was considered inferior and cheap.
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