You're referring to the Civil Rights Era and LBJ's Great Society. On the flip side, had we extended equal rights and opportunities from the drop, our GDP would

You're referring to the Civil Rights Era and LBJ's Great Society. On the flip side, had we extended equal rights and opportunities from the drop, our GDP would have grown that much faster. IIRC > $1.5T per year. In other words, not paying up front cost us more long term.