There was littering, yes. But in 1959 America you generally wouldn't see: -Mothers supervising their kids as they defecate on a city sidewalk, or in the garbag

There was littering, yes. But in 1959 America you generally wouldn't see: -Mothers supervising their kids as they defecate on a city sidewalk, or in the garbage bin in a busy train station. -Dead mules left rotting and bloated in the sun for days right beside busy streets, with drinking water flowing nearby. -Restaurant owners throwing garbage out the front door of their establishment onto the street right in front of the restaurant. You're relating what I said to your own experience, which is Mad Men-style "littering". Only once you actually go outside your bubble can you understand that humans can do so much worse - and billions do. I think to find a Western example you'd have to go back to horse and buggy days at least, and possibly to before widespread plumbing (e.g. late 1800's London cholera epidemics, the Thames literally full of shit).