Posted on 07/07/2025 11:58:25 AM PDT by grundle
I asked Grok:
Fact check:
Compared to the 1950s, here are some things that are far, far better in 2025:
Average life expectancy.
Square footage of housing per person. Houses today are much bigger, but the number of people in each house is much smaller.
Number of bathrooms per person in each house.
Percentage of homes with air conditioning.
Number of dental cavities for the average 18 year old.
Percentage of the population that is vaccinated against polio and measles.
Percentage of the population that has indoor plumbing.
Percentage of the population that takes a daily shower.
Being able to watch any movie that you want, whenever you want.
Size of average TV screen.
Percentage of the population that owns a color TV.
Percentage of the population that works at a desk inside an air conditioned office, instead of outside in the hot sun doing manual labor.
Every single one of these things is far, far better today than in the 1950s.
(end of my question)
This is Grok’s response:
Below, I’ll fact-check each claim by comparing the 1950s to 2025, using available data and historical context. I’ll aim to be concise while addressing each point thoroughly, citing sources where relevant. All claims will be evaluated for whether they are “far, far better” in 2025 compared to the 1950s.
1. Average Life ExpectancyClaim: Average life expectancy is far better in 2025 than in the 1950s.
Fact-Check:
1950s: Life expectancy at birth in the U.S. was 68.2 years in 1950 (65.6 for males, 71.1 for females).
2025: Life expectancy in 2023 was 78.4 years (75.8 for males, 81.1 for females), with projections suggesting a slight increase or stabilization by 2025.
Analysis: Life expectancy has increased by about 10 years, a significant improvement driven by advances in medical care, vaccines, and public health. However, recent stagnation due to chronic diseases and socioeconomic factors slightly tempers the “far, far better” claim. Still, the increase is substantial.
Verdict: True, life expectancy is significantly better in 2025.
2. Square Footage of Housing per PersonClaim: Houses are much bigger, with fewer people per house, leading to more square footage per person in 2025.
Fact-Check:
1950s: In 1950, the average new single-family home was ~1,000–1,200 square feet, with an average household size of ~3.37 people, yielding ~300–350 square feet per person.
2025: In 2015, the average new home was 2,687 square feet, with a median of 2,467 square feet, and household size dropped to 2.54. This results in ~971–1,058 square feet per person. Recent data suggests a slight decline in home size (e.g., 2,386 square feet median in 2018), but the trend of larger homes persists.
Analysis: Square footage per person has nearly tripled due to larger homes and smaller households, strongly supporting the claim.
Verdict: True, square footage per person is far better in 2025.
3. Number of Bathrooms per Person in Each HouseClaim: Number of bathrooms per person is far better in 2025.
Fact-Check:
1950s: Data is sparse, but homes typically had 1–1.5 bathrooms, with an average household size of ~3.37, yielding ~0.3–0.4 bathrooms per person. Many homes, especially older or rural ones, lacked full bathrooms.
2025: Modern homes often have 2–3 bathrooms, with new homes in 2015 averaging ~2.5 bathrooms for a household size of 2.54, yielding ~1 bathroom per person.
Analysis: The increase from ~0.3 to ~1 bathroom per person is a clear improvement, driven by larger homes and modern design standards.
Verdict: True, bathrooms per person are far better in 2025.
4. Percentage of Homes with Air ConditioningClaim: Percentage of homes with air conditioning is far better in 2025.
Fact-Check:
1950s: In the 1950s, air conditioning was a luxury; fewer than 10% of homes had it, with ~50% of new homes by the mid-1970s having AC.
2025: By 2015, 93% of new homes had central air conditioning, and ~87% of all U.S. households had some form of AC (central or window units) by 2020. This percentage likely increased slightly by 2025.
Analysis: The rise from <10% to ~90% is a dramatic improvement, making this claim accurate.
Verdict: True, the percentage of homes with air conditioning is far better in 2025.
5. Number of Dental Cavities for the Average 18-Year-OldClaim: Number of dental cavities for the average 18-year-old is far better in 2025.
Fact-Check:
1950s: Limited data exists, but dental care was less advanced, with minimal fluoridation and poorer oral hygiene practices. Studies suggest 18-year-olds had ~4–7 cavities on average, with higher rates of untreated decay.
2025: By 2011–2016, CDC data showed ~1.5–2 cavities (decayed, missing, or filled teeth) for adolescents aged 12–19, with fluoridated water, better dental care, and sealants reducing decay rates. This trend likely holds or improved slightly by 2025.
Analysis: A reduction from ~4–7 to ~1.5–2 cavities is a significant improvement, supporting the claim.
Verdict: True, dental cavities for 18-year-olds are far better in 2025.
6. Percentage of the Population Vaccinated Against Polio and MeaslesClaim: Percentage of the population vaccinated against polio and measles is far better in 2025.
Fact-Check:
1950s: Polio vaccine was introduced in 1955, with ~50% of children vaccinated by the late 1950s. Measles vaccine wasn’t available until 1963, so 0% were vaccinated in the 1950s.
2025: By 2020, ~93% of U.S. children (19–35 months) were vaccinated against polio, and ~92% against measles (MMR). Adult vaccination rates are lower but still significant. Rates may have slightly declined due to vaccine hesitancy but remain high.
Analysis: The jump from ~50% (polio) and 0% (measles) to ~92–93% is a massive improvement.
Verdict: True, vaccination rates for polio and measles are far better in 2025.
7. Percentage of the Population with Indoor PlumbingClaim: Percentage with indoor plumbing is far better in 2025.
Fact-Check:
1950s: In 1950, ~85% of U.S. homes had indoor plumbing, with rural areas lagging (some as low as 50%).
2025: By 2020, >99% of U.S. homes had indoor plumbing, with near-universal access in urban and rural areas.
Analysis: The increase from ~85% to >99% is significant, though the 1950s baseline was already relatively high.
Verdict: True, but the “far, far better” claim is slightly exaggerated due to the high baseline in the 1950s.
8. Percentage of the Population that Takes a Daily ShowerClaim: Percentage taking a daily shower is far better in 2025.
Fact-Check:
1950s: Limited data, but daily showering was less common due to fewer bathrooms, cultural norms (weekly baths common), and water access issues in rural areas. Estimates suggest ~20–30% showered daily.
2025: Surveys (e.g., 2020 YouGov) indicate ~60–70% of Americans shower daily, driven by more bathrooms, better plumbing, and changing hygiene norms.
Analysis: The increase from ~20–30% to ~60–70% is notable, supporting the claim, though cultural factors influence showering habits.
Verdict: True, daily showering is significantly better in 2025.
9. Being Able to Watch Any Movie Whenever You WantClaim: Ability to watch any movie whenever you want is far better in 2025.
Fact-Check:
1950s: Movie access was limited to theaters, with ~4–5 billion annual theater admissions. Home viewing was rare, with no VCRs or streaming.
2025: Streaming services (Netflix, Disney+, etc.) allow instant access to millions of movies. Over 80% of U.S. households have streaming subscriptions, and physical media (DVDs, Blu-rays) are widely available.
Analysis: The shift from theater-only to on-demand streaming is a revolutionary improvement.
Verdict: True, movie-watching availability is far better in 2025.
10. Size of Average TV ScreenClaim: Size of the average TV screen is far better in 2025.
Fact-Check:
1950s: TVs were ~12–20 inches (diagonal), with small, bulky CRT screens.
2025: Average TV screen size is ~50–55 inches, with some households having 65–85-inch screens, driven by affordable flat-screen technology.
Analysis: The increase from ~12–20 inches to ~50–55 inches is a dramatic improvement in size and quality.
Verdict: True, TV screen size is far better in 2025.
11. Percentage of the Population that Owns a Color TVClaim: Percentage owning a color TV is far better in 2025.
Fact-Check:
1950s: Color TVs were introduced in 1954, but only ~1% of households had them by 1959 due to high costs.
2025: Virtually 100% of TV-owning households (~95% of all households) have color TVs, with modern TVs exclusively in color.
Analysis: The rise from ~1% to ~95% is a clear improvement.
Verdict: True, color TV ownership is far better in 2025.
12. Percentage of the Population Working in Air-Conditioned OfficesClaim: Percentage working at desks in air-conditioned offices, rather than manual labor in the sun, is far better in 2025.
Fact-Check:
1950s: ~30% of jobs were in manufacturing, agriculture, or construction, often outdoors or in non-air-conditioned spaces. Office jobs were ~15–20%, with limited AC (est. <20% of offices).
2025: ~80% of jobs are in service or office-based sectors, with >90% of offices air-conditioned. Manual labor jobs are <10% of the workforce.
Analysis: The shift to office work and near-universal office AC strongly supports the claim.
Verdict: True, the percentage working in air-conditioned offices is far better in 2025.
Summary
All claims are true, with most showing dramatic improvements that justify the “far, far better” description. The only slight caveat is indoor plumbing, where the 1950s baseline (~85%) was already high, making the improvement to >99% significant but less “far, far” than others. Advances in healthcare, housing, technology, and work conditions have driven these changes, though socioeconomic disparities and recent health trends (e.g., obesity) warrant consideration.
If you’d like further details or specific data for any point, let me know!
(end of Grok’s response)
“Houses today are much bigger”
What about lot sizes?
My 1950s subdivision lot is 5/8ths of an acre.
And your kids have 2 fewer cavities—but also 10 fewer IQ points.
Are we really better off with more and larger TV’s?
Is the work force moving more towards indoor office type work really a good thing?
Is watching Netflix a good thing?
Is fluoridated water a good thing?
This really does not impress me at all.
A several years ago we tried cable TV and the installers were appalled that we only had one TV. I never really understood that. An acquaintance of our bought a small RV that had 3 TVs and boasted about it. Why buy an expensive RV if all you are going to do is watch TV?
Yes, I’m old fashioned and I don’t care.
This AI and Grok crap does not impress me either. It’s an excuse for people not to think on their own and use someone else’s programming as an authority.
And in the 1950s, you could, IF you so choose to, watch live plays performed, ballet dancing, opera, operettas, variety shows that featured magicians, scenes from current Broadway plays, singers, dancers of all kinds, and famous comedians. There were many good children's shows, cooking shows, documentaries, comedy series that were actually funny, and NO perversion, no anti-American crap, and NOTHING WOKE! It really was THE GOLDEN AGE OF T.V.!
The 1950s house typically was purchased with a 20-year mortgage.
My father’s parents died young in the 1950s.
My father introduced medical insurance to the company he ran - the employee cost was 25 cents a week.
Well, the younger one, who is 54 had his uppers removed several years ago for implants. The bottoms survived all his years of smoking. The oldest, going on 59 never smoked and has all of his. I never smoked either, and lost my 12 year molars, one with each pregnancy. Too much candy as a kid. Have two permanent bridges, but no dentures. Youngest had all his wisdom teeth removed. Oldest son and I only had two out. Everybody in my immediate family had dentures because they all smoked.
Can't tell you about my kid's IQ's.
ROFL!! Too bad we couldn’t get Democrats to think that was normal behavior.
I wouldn’t need GROK to answer any of those questions. Most are common sense.
“I certainly showered every day and had air conditioning.”
I did as well—but my father had a well paying job so we had more modern conveniences than a lot of other folks.
I remember we were the first in the neighborhood to have a color TV (but that was in the mid 1960s).
I like having a bigger TV to watch my vintage shows and movies on.
You could have just asked Scott.
“I remember we were the first in the neighborhood to have a color TV (but that was in the mid 1960s).”
We were probably the last ones. :-). Dad was frugal.
Grew up in Downriver Detroit area. Parent’s house was 906 sq. ft. We were a family of six. One bathroom, no shower - only a bathtub. Thought it was normal, and it was.
Medical better
State of blacks could be argued either way
That’s it
Everything else has declined societally
I was first cognizant around 1962
Oh more air conditioning another improvement
Less cavities is because people aren’t eating sugar filled foods. They are eating corn syrup filled foods, different monster I am guessing.
Amen
Stable marriages. Way Down.
Divorces. Way up.
Single mothers. Way up
Out of wedlock births. Way up.
Babies killed by their mothers. Way up
% of women who plan to have children. Way down.
% of women at 30 that have children. Way down.
% of desperately unhappy single women growing old by themselves. way up.
% of young men who won’t come near a woman for fear of being accused of sexual assault or having their future finances destroyed by a divorce. Way up.
% of young women who refuse to consider dating or marrying anything other than a wealthy, fashion model. Shockingly high.
% of young men who have just given up on women. Shockingly high.
% of Muslims as a proportion of US population. Way up.
Fentanyl and THC use. Way up.
Church attendance. Way down.
But we all have lots more bathrooms! So there’s that.
Yes it was for the growing middle class in 50s America.
We are not taking month long trips to Disney but neither was the average GM assembly worker back in the fifties. And not only because Disney was not around then either.
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