A Rodney Dangerfield America?

The author comments on the survey titled "Current Decade Rated Worst in 50 Years," carried out by Pew Research Center in the U.S. in December 2009, with special reference to a joke by comedian Rodney Dangerfield. He cites notable events in the current decade based on the results of the study, including the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. He says the 1980s dominate over the other four decades in Pew's comparison. He also explains why people apparently believe the 1980s were the best years of their lives.