Defining the Last Decade

My CNN.com column argues that the years from 2000 on have been united by one great theme: This is the decade when the bills came due for neglected problems.

My CNN.com column picks up a challenge issued by Michael Toth in this space a few weeks ago: to define the decade of the 00s. (I know, I know strictly speaking the decade ends Dec. 31 2010, not 2009 - but, reader, who are we to battle the universal media convention?)

Whatever you call them, the years from 2000 on have been united by one great theme: This is the decade when the bills came due for neglected problems.