Teenage Angst

Ten years ago we said goodbye to the tumultuous noughties. Though as we all know just changing a calendar and the catchy nickname of a decade do not equal a change in political and economic outlook. It is exactly these major events that shift our lives and livelihoods.

As the global financial crisis took hold, as countries in the west slipped into recession, and while heated discussions of recovery and stimulus overtook those even more scalding of bank bailouts, conversations around sustainability and climate change abruptly took a backseat. And many had their suspicions about the latter’s legitimacy anyway, so best not to broach it in national dialogue.

In the early years of the teens Occupy Wall Street took its stance in cities all over the world, bringing awareness to income inequality. But largely this has been a decade of economic growth in the US. Not for all: shopping malls sit abandoned or if a community is lucky, repurposed. The news media have dubbed it Retail-Apocalypse, and it has seen the bankruptcy and or closure of major brick and mortar retailers.

Over the last 10 years we’ve moved online streaming on Netflix, communicating via Facebook and shopping on Amazon. The streets of our cities are even more crowded than ever with next-day delivery and app-based services for groceries and ride sharing. Meanwhile governments and communities are reviving their concerns over climate change. It could be this decade has set up the next for increased action on sustainable solutions, hopefully those underground.

Now there are those reading this with more years and plenty more wisdom who have seen the world change over several more decades than I. The trials and tribulations of today may not compare to those of the steel crisis, the oil crisis, or other economic collapses predating the 1970s—this is an attempt to flatter our readers, and their youthful, good looks. To them, and perhaps to others, assigning identity and rumination of the past on the dawn of new decade may have come to resemble a broken record. Thankfully journalists only get away with it once every 10 years.

And as it is the season for giving thanks we extend our appreciation to all of our authors, advertisers and readers for their support in 2019, and wish everyone a wonderful year (and decade) ahead!