I was going through stock pictures for this post and got a little emotional. Yeah, I was a kid in '78 and we didn't always know that "things" were NOT great, but they were as a kid.
The truth is, life WAS easier. For US in 1978, but also in 1950 something the movie was set in. Nothing is perfect, but people were kinder, happier. No internet, no cell phones. I like having a phone as much as anyone, but if we could go back to before tech? Yeah, it would be simpler. :)