No Medicare taxes. Social Security taxes on workers less than half what they are now.

1960 Federal budget, in constant 2008 dollars, one-sixth what it is now.

1960 Federal revenues, in 2008 dollars, $631 billion, or $3,500 per citizen, compared to the current $6,300 per citizen.

Defense spending as a percentage of Federal budget over 50 percent, about twice what it is now.

Health insurance coverage on Americans less than 45 percent compared to current 83 percent.

Per capita income, in constant dollars, about half what it is now (Census figures only go back to 1967)

No food stamps.

No Department of Housing and Urban Development. No Federal Departments of Transportation, Energy, Education, or Veteran's Affairs. No EPA. No Department of Homeland Security.

I could go on like this for a while on things like standards of living, but I've got other things to do.

What you seem to think caused America to "thrive" is incorrect. Completely inverted, in fact.