The 10 Worst Things About the Worst Decade Ever

The 10 Worst Things About the Worst Decade Ever
Christopher Morris / VII for TIME

The Disintegration of Detroit
The U.S. auto industry virtually vanished as a result of decades of complicity and ineptitude on the parts of GM, Chrysler and the United Auto Workers. Management would pile on wage hikes and perks, and in return, the union would rule out strikes, even though both sides must have realized that the amount being paid out to workers was unsustainable. Meanwhile, Detroit turned out ugly, low-quality cars with shameful gas mileage on a production line overseen by layers of redundant management that relied on amateurish financial controls and was reinforced by insular thinking cultivated by decades of outsize market share. When the collapse came, it came hard.

Get the Latest Photos from Time.com
Get TIME photos and pictures of the week delivered directly to your inbox.