Precisely when did the "good old days" end?

They never end. As everyone gets older the good old days get extended for each generation.

The "Good'ol days" are a myth. Slowly...very slowly, our society is shedding racism, common place predigests and embraced more human rights. There are more advancements in medical treatment then ever before, more chances at prosperity for the lower classes. Education is at a higher standard, communication is global, food (for North Americans anyways) is abundant.

Compared to the earlier parts of this century, we are living in fair and prosperous times. Not saying it couldn't be better, only that it is better then anytime in our history.

The Day the Music Died?

Probably when you got married, hehe. I wouldn't know...

the day I was born

When I turned 30.

Well that depends on your point of reference. As a global phenomena for Western affected society it has been on a downhill slide since the 1950's. As our economic system became dominated by global players this changed local economies which had supported families and communities based on more of a local Agrarian semi-closed loop economic models. Since life and all things of value have been on a fast slide towards being put in hock to pay for interest payments on a an artificial economic paper based system, most all peoples lives have been put into hyper gear to satisfy the paper monster. Real sustainable wealth is and always has been measured in peoples capacity for happiness in the pusuit of life, love, learn about life, personal freedom to worship and raise a family or whatever one chooses to do in communites of mutual self respect and self reliance.
We have the need and capacity to reinvent society by shifting the banking system from an interest based private banking system to one owned by the people where money is created inpublicly owned banks serving local communities. The money will support economic activity that supports local initiatives. lowering the cost of money and creating community will bring home the parent(s) to have time to raise their children and improve their community. In short we sold our souls for a piece of the future that never was in happiness's best interest.
Yes of couse there is always more to the equation such as how do cccommunity banks coexist and support the larger economy... That's chapter two!

They've ended??? Nobody told ME...

This really hit home back then as it does today.

Merle Haggard 1982
===================
I wish a buck was still silver.
It was back when the country was strong.
Back before Elvis; before the Vietnam war came along.
Before The Beatles and "Yesterday",
When a man could still work, and still would.
Is the best of the free life behind us now?
Are the good times really over for good?
Are we rolling down hill like a snowball headed for hell?
With no kind of chance for the Flag or the Liberty bell.
Wish a Ford and a Chevy,
Could still last ten years, like they should.
Is the best of the free life behind us now?
Are the good times really over for good?

I wish coke was still cola,
And a joint was a bad place to be.
And it was back before Nixon lied to us all on TV.
Before microwave ovens,
When a girl could still cook and still would.
Is the best of the free life behind us now?
Are the good times really over for good?

Are we rolling down hill like a snowball headed for hell?
With no kind of chance for the Flag or the Liberty bell.
Wish a Ford and a Chevy,
Could still last ten years, like they should.
Is the best of the free life behind us now?
Are the good times really over for good?

Stop rolling down hill like a snowball headed for hell.
Stand up for the Flag and let's all ring the Liberty bell.
Let's make a Ford and a Chevy,
Still last ten years, like they should.
The best of the free life is still yet to come,
The good times ain't over for good.

Probably when the person whining about the good old days had children, because the next generation is always seen as inferior to the previous one.