[varon]

In 1945, we had the best military, best technology, we had the A-bomb, and we were the only major country not ravaged by the war. We were on top.

All that was accomplished without millions of illegals!!

[Clemenza]

All that was accomplished on the backs of millions of immigrants from eastern and central Europe, many of whom came through a not-so regulated system until the early part of the 20th century.

The post war era was highly unusual, as the European nations had been destroyed by war, and the Asian tigers were not yet a factor. That why the era of "good high payin' jobs" for the unskilled/semiskilled "werkin' man" only lasted from 1945-1972.