The dissonance resolves itself when you realize the "glory" they are talking about is not how our society uplifted Americans economically in that era, but how racial and religious hegemony was maintained.

I think these particular people would be happy to forego all economic progress made in the last 70 years if it meant they could return to a time when being male, white, straight, and Christian was all it took to be at the top of the social order.