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50 Comments
- inactive, on 02/26/2009, -7/+13So by making all our stuff their carbon emissions are high, and that's their fault? Shouldn't some of that carbon emission blame be shouldered by us?
- zeth006, on 02/26/2009, -2/+7It's so easy to bash on China these days, isn't it. We're the most powerful country in the world with the ability to print unlimited stacks of cash. We borrow trillions of dollars from the Asians. Yet we lag Europe in fuel-efficiency standards in our autos and we refuse to buy smaller cars. This is made ever more obvious by the fact that I have a couple of bozos in my neighborhood who still drive hummers even when fuel prices are now creeping up. It’s only because we’re in an economic crisis we now have stimulus/budget packages along the way that are throwing money toward “green” projects. That’s fortunate considering we’ve seen too many cases in the past 8 years when the incumbent administration felt the need to cut the budget in R&D.
The list goes on. But China’s just going through its own industrial revolution and the economic growth vs. environmental concerns debate is a Catch-22. China has to maintain its typical 8%+ annual economic growth to provide jobs for its population 1+ billion people. But in order to maintain high levels of job growth, China has to cut as much as possible of what it sees as any red tape that might inhibit this goal. Environmental regulations are one of such things the Communist Party of China will be last to enact as that would increase manufacturing costs and thus make China an unattractive place to set up factories. That would force American businesses to migrate and outsource to other developing countries.
A Berkeley professor once said that Chinese citizens currently voice little dissidence about human rights against the Communist Party since they’re most concerned about gaining a basic standard of living—i.e. jobs. But the day the people begin to think their government is incapable of providing them with such is the day the people will rise up in rebellion. In a country of 1+ billion people, that won’t look pretty.
So in conclusion: Environmental regulations create extra costs that put an extra tax on outsourcing companies. When job growth is the priority, the government puts environmental issues last on the list.
But all isn’t lost. Lately we’ve been seeing news reports about Chery, a China-based car company, making advances in gas & electric-powered automobile engines. Now there’s a glimmer of hope. - bigtoes, on 02/26/2009, -0/+5Encourage them to change ? We can't get China to quit manipulating our currency . They also are financing our deficits , trade & national . They seem to have more leverage than America has stomach at least on a political level .
- jerryjamesstone, on 02/25/2009, -9/+14It sometimes bothers me how much China is scolded by the US only because our politicians still haven't cleaned up the mess we got ourselves into with OUR industrial revolution. Nonetheless, I do feel we need to encourage them to change.
- setset, on 02/26/2009, -0/+4the only way we can encourage them to change is to stop buying chinese products. Everytime you buy "made in China" products, more CO2 is produced there. Hey, I'm guilty of it too.
Just saying, we can't blame them if we are supporting them. - soccerbud, on 02/26/2009, -0/+3Foreign companies have the option of manufacturing (or import) goods in countries where environmental standards are high (e.g. Japan, North America, Europe etc.). However, these companies made a conscious choice to manufacture (or import) goods from China, where environmental standards are low but production cost is low.
Therefore, if one is to blame China, one should also blame Western companies, which are blinded by greed and by the mighty dollar.
In additional, while we are sitting here playing armchair general and blame China for the woes of world environment, Chinese people and Chinese kids are suffering from all time high birth defect and cancer rates. So China is reaping what it sowed. - Sparker1981, on 02/26/2009, -3/+5Always going to happen, hardly striking news when most manufacturing has been closed down in developed countries and reopened in China.
- DoctorBagel, on 02/26/2009, -0/+2China did this to themselves. Looking at the economics of it, by China pegging its currency to the dollar it has made the decision to be an exporter to America instead of letting regular economic factors balance the trade deficit. It is a choice.
- Howtolitho101, on 02/26/2009, -4/+6wooo go China!
- spoon088, on 02/26/2009, -0/+2Lol look at all these dumb Americans getting all pissy at the obviousness. It's this kind of self righteous can-do-no wrong attitude that gets us into *****. In b4 buries!
- theman1119, on 02/26/2009, -0/+2***** duh? China's economy is based on manufacturing and selling the rest of the world goods. They are just trying to place the blame for their lack of clean air standards elsewhere. Everyone needs to take responsibility, if they are really that concerned why don't they have an export tax to cover the cost of reducing their CO2 emissions.
- desertDenizen, on 02/26/2009, -2/+4Filed under 'obvious'
- gacorley, on 02/27/2009, -0/+1Please don't overstate. China's regulations are by no means great, but things have been improving over recent years. Hopefully we can help that trend continue.
- inactive, on 02/27/2009, -0/+1Anybody notice the authors name "Captain Obvious"
- gacorley, on 02/27/2009, -0/+1Isolation doesn't work with China, we've tried it before, it failed.
Besides that, there are hundreds of millions of people whose jobs depend on those products. Yes, they're grossly underpaid for what they produce, but there's something there. I would very much like to see them develop their rural areas and create domestic demand, though -- it would make both of our economies healthier. - inactive, on 02/27/2009, -0/+1It's Americas fault that we allowed free enterprise and capitalism to operate?
- inactive, on 02/27/2009, -0/+1What does sexual orientation have to do awareness?
- JohnnySoftware, on 07/26/2009, -0/+1Duh.
- bigtoes, on 02/28/2009, -0/+1Free market ? Our exports to China are tariffed three times as much as their exports here . Protectionism seems to be working just fine for them .
- bigtoes, on 02/26/2009, -4/+5Of course they produce everything . China has no labor or environmental laws . In the last 10 years 3 of their 4 largest lakes have completely died as well . The country is turning into a dump site . Isn't free trade lovely . And to the guy above Yes it is Americas fault atleast partially . Our government has allowed our corporations to manufacture there so we can get cheaper goods but mostly so they can make more profit . Safety be damned . Its going to be interesting to see what happens when a country of a billion people & the largest military in Asia can't live in their filth anymore . They will only gain more wealth & leverage not to mention China technically considers everything on the Chinese sea part of China . Its globalization when its convenient .
- BloodWenis, on 02/26/2009, -3/+4I'd say there's enough blame to go around. China during it's industrial revolution will do anything for anything, cut any corner necessary just to get the work. Environment, safety, worker health be damned.
As the wealthier, more powerful nations we sit back and send our industry to them. We don't care how it gets done because ultimately we make more money off them in the process. Then they suffer all of the the ill effects of having haphazardly done things. (well until our kids start eating lead toys, or we drink imported apple juice fertilized with human feces.) - setset, on 02/27/2009, -0/+1@ xavie87,
If people stop buying from China, you would use my handle correctly, and you would use the question mark(?) correctly. - Swivelstick, on 02/26/2009, -0/+1You mean the free market? China was placed in the current position by the corporate sector moving all manufacturing to them. Then people continued to buy from these players so the leverage is not China's alone.
- Refrozen, on 02/26/2009, -1/+2http://www.politonomist.com/us-chinas-human-rights ...
yeah. and the worst human right.s
rofl. - zeth006, on 02/26/2009, -1/+2Enough with the technicality. You're missing the point and there's no need to be annoyingly pedantic.
US history teachers commonly refer to the industrial revolution in American as the industrial revolution. It's just a matter of naming. While it's true Britain was the main author, the US eventually became the next engine of growth. - inactive, on 02/26/2009, -1/+2Ya think?
- inactive, on 02/26/2009, -0/+1Actually that's Australia.
- mheyne2, on 02/26/2009, -4/+4Global warming's a bitch.
- bigtoes, on 02/26/2009, -1/+1South China sea . Sorry going to bed .
- Frankyfan3, on 02/26/2009, -4/+4um... can I hear a "Duh!" ??
- LoJack, on 02/26/2009, -1/+1On a per-capita basis, U.S. is still #1. lol...
- inactive, on 02/26/2009, -5/+5It doesn't really matter what they're making, the problem is that they don't have environmental controls so every burns the cheapest dirtiest coal that they can find.
Free trade is not the cause of global warming. - setset, on 02/26/2009, -2/+2finally someone who speaks the truth.
- idrisoz, on 07/22/2009, -0/+0They succeed to growth even at financial crisis ..
- bigtoes, on 02/26/2009, -1/+1South China sea . Sorry going to bed .
- bigtoes, on 02/28/2009, -1/+1Its Americas fault that we will allow another country to manufacture goods for us that could never pass inspection here . Its Americas fault that we will allow corporations to manufacture in China as a way of bypassing our environmental & labor laws . Things have been improving ? With little research you can find lots of information on how they are polluting themselves to death .
- bri719, on 02/26/2009, -1/+1only 15% comes from exports. buried
- inactive, on 02/26/2009, -1/+1All we need is Pakistani and India to throw a few Nukes at each other.
Finish off the smörgåsbord of man.
Half of the planet would look like Mars.
The other half Jupiter.
The best of both worlds. - Xavie87, on 02/27/2009, -1/+1China actually has one of the toughest environmental laws laws on the books... The problem is that they just aren't implied due to corrupt officials
- Xavie87, on 02/27/2009, -1/+0setsetsetset what do you think is going to happen of every one stop buying made in China ???
- inactive, on 02/26/2009, -5/+3ignorant *****
the lot of you - Terasiel, on 02/26/2009, -6/+4So the economic superpower that controls most of the first world's manufacturing puts out of a lot of carbon? Surprised me. I figured it had to all be coming from old fashioned cars.
- MadOgre, on 02/26/2009, -7/+5Global warming's a fraud. Fixed that for you..
- geoffg, on 02/26/2009, -3/+1"US history teachers commonly refer to the industrial revolution in American as the industrial revolution. It's just a matter of naming."
The implication of his thesis is that China is a victim to the creation of the industrial revolution by the US. The flaw in the logic is that the US followed England's lead just as China followed the US thus making the US just as much a "victim" of circumstance as China according to this line of reasoning.
It's no wonder this entire generation is filled with Obamabot retards who have no understanding of history...they deserve this downward sliding economy they're unknowingly creating and supporting. - MadOgre, on 02/26/2009, -9/+6So even though China is the polluter - It's still America's fault? Buried.
- CCCPSpy, on 02/26/2009, -10/+7I see, so this is all the wealthy nations' faults. Are they suggesting that if China was not exporting anything, the demand for the products wouldn't exist? Last I knew, people still bought children toys, electronics, textiles, etc when they were produced domestically. The pollution from creating these products would still be created, just in the local countries.
- geoffg, on 02/26/2009, -7/+3"OUR" industrial revolution...so you're pissed off at England?
Learn your history.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industrial_Revolution - S1ngular1ty1, on 02/26/2009, -10/+3In before global warming.
- inactive, on 02/26/2009, -10/+3Global warming is a LIBERAL CONSPIRACY THEORY that has been created to OVER-TAX Republicans and to oppress this CHRISTIAN NATION!
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