It's also semi-unnerving for what it portends regarding the possibility of deep rot in our political economy. Yes, we've seen treatments like this before. Yes, the author is probably missing the mark a bit (or missing it even more if you're an optimist or realist or whatever). But still.

I recently read a number of historical treatments of the late gilded age and the roaring twenties, as well as some notable treatments of 20th century American history that partially covered that era, or provided additional insight into it (e.g. "The Glory and The Dream").

There are two strong impressions of that era that jump out from the historical literature. They are something like: "where are the adults?" and "business activity at full-speed, moving nowhere at all".