There was a 'golden' time. Maybe more than once. My grandparents told me that 1895 was one such 'golden age.' Maybe there was another in 1953. But, you know, and there is no doubt, that the 'golden' periods were not golden to all. It might be that right now is another 'golden' time. 1776 was 'golden', but by 1787 that was coming apart. It takes work to make this idea real, apparently constant work, it is the kind of work that just won't stay done.
Exactly, I wasn't necessarily harkening back to any particular era, just the idea of what America used to be. Then the 1960s happened and young people decided they didn't want to work as hard as their parents and grand-parents did. Now we have the America of today.
It's a fight that doesnt end, just when you think you've won it, apathy creeps in and cracks start to appear.