Samuelson is accurate for the most part, yet leaves out at least one key facet. For a majority of American households there has been an ever lower( or unchanged) standard of living, while at the same time a smaller segment(the upper middle and the upper economic  classes)  of around 30% of households,  has done quite well,  increasing ( substantially in many cases )their standard of living. It's this divide that accounts for a good deal of the animosity. It's "ok" to sink together on the USS Titanic, but a lot harder to stomach watching(and our social media makes it virtually impossible not to notice) others sail merrily away on what few lifeboats remain.