I, for one, would have no interest in returning to the 1950's, as much as I like the design of that era. No interest in the racism, homophobia, sexism and the bland conformity of that time (although we still have plenty of bland conformity to go around today)
But I will say this for that era: A lot of progressive thought emerged from that stifling morass that began (roughly) with McCarthyism and ended (again, roughly) with JFK's assassination. The pioneers of that era (Rosa Parks, MLK, Charles Eames, Harvey Earl, etc, etc, etc) helped mold the positive changes that we see today, where people are more free to be themselves. Some may call it libertine, or "decayed morals", but I think it's just a more realistic approach to living. You can pound all you want, but some pegs just don't fit into some holes (and I don't mean that in a sexual sense ;-)
A lot of the things we miss from that era (quality products, design innovation, good service, common courtesy) still exist, but the business interests that run this country have no interest in promoting it. The emphasis is much more on consumerism strictly for the sake of consumerism. Simple-minded, sound-byte driven politics of division are employed to keep us distracted from the real issues of the time. In the big picture, who sleeps with who is not important - who is ruining the environment and looting the nation's wealth is.
I agree that this is not exactly the forum for this kind of discussion, but it's something I think about a lot. Through the years, people have compared my "decor" to being "Just like Grandma's house", and I have had people ask me if it is just an escape from modern life. To me, it's not - it's an appreciation of a certain optimism that was itself a rejection of the dreariness and deprivation of the Great Depression and the War Years. A "synergy", if you will, of American ingenuity and manufacturing might, with the innovation of designers from around the world. A hope that things might be better for humanity, not just for the individual. The design of that era reflects those values, and represents some of the best of human intellect and aspiration, which is why it holds up well even today.
So I live very much in the present, but like having timeless pieces around to inspire and comfort me.