We tend to forget the vast improvements we’ve made in the past century. America is a great country. We have achieved so very much. We have a lot to be proud of.

We are also a very generous country. Look at all the amazing things we do with our wealth. We aren’t stingy at all.

We also come to the aid of other countries in the tough and deadly work of defending freedom. Where would the world be with out our sacrifices in World War I and II?

So let’s recall gains of the past century. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), which is celebrating the 100th anniversary of its flagship publication — the Monthly Labor Review — has a great article by economist Carol Boyd Leon comparing 1915 with 2015. It’s a fascinating peek at the past that raises important questions about the future.

By 1915, the United States was the world’s richest nation — and yet, most Americans were dirt poor by today’s standards. Adjusted for inflation, men’s average wages were about a third of what full-time workers now earn. The average workweek in manufacturing hovered around 50 hours, and many employees worked a half day on Saturday. Less than a third of homes had electric lights. Less than a fifth of the adult population were high school graduates.

Source: The hard times Americans often forget – The Washington Post