What was the climate(social/cultural, political, economic) of the United States of America in 1948?

~ Population was 140 million.
~ Less than half lived in cities.
~ A two BR house rented for $35 to $45 per month, maybe less.
~ Apartments were unknown.
~ Driving while drunk was not a crime.
~ A kid of any age could get a job if he could convince somebody that he was worth the wage.
~ There was no minimum wage.
~ High school students often bought used car parts and built a car in shop class.
~ All the withholding taxes totaled less than 8% of a paycheck.
~ My father referred to that as "taxing us to death."
~ One American in ten was a licensed amateur radio operator.
~ Many or most amateur radio stations were built entirely from war surplus parts.