Well, the 50s were interesting, at least, in that the US proved itself capable of accomplishing major, super-inovative projects. Actually, if the US were to do something like this, then it would be kinda 50sish in a way, wouldn't it? When was the last time that the US government set a goal that seemed unreachable, like the moon landing, or before that the rail-road across the continent and actually reached that goal?
I'm not really sure I'm a big fan of such massive government projects myself though. Private companies certainly managed to build a fiberopitic data network that spans every major city, and excelent wireless phone coverage, and some really fast CPUs, and a new type of smaller light commuter jet which, along with Europes airbus, revolutionised cheep intercity travel. Unlike in the 50s, none of that was done by the feds.
No modern CPUs without huge government programmes fifty years ago. Similarly for communications and very much so for aerospace; cheap and private now, evolved from expensive and social back then.
I'm not really sure I'm a big fan of such massive government projects myself though. Private companies certainly managed to build a fiberopitic data network that spans every major city, and excelent wireless phone coverage, and some really fast CPUs, and a new type of smaller light commuter jet which, along with Europes airbus, revolutionised cheep intercity travel. Unlike in the 50s, none of that was done by the feds.