100 yrs ago the life expectancy was 51 and 65% of the population grew their own food. 50% of the population was illiterate. More people died in WWI from food poisoning than from the enemy. The slaughterhouses in Chicago were so dangerous and full of pathogens that the workers lasted less than ten yrs on the job. If you went to a hospital chances were you died from sepsis faster than you did from your original complaint. There were no roads to speak of and the ports were run by gangsters. There were very few places with clean water or electricity and most piping was joined with lead solder. The paint also. There is lots more but the nutshell is if you want civilisation you have to pay for it. The difference is where in the hierarchy the benefits go; to the very rich in this administration or to the majority of the population in a sane administration. As far as mom staying home to raise the kids; maybe thats why most of the kids left home before their 15th birthday.