The Oil Drum

123 comments on DrumBeat: December 31, 2006

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Don Sailorman on December 31, 2006 - 4:20pm

Well-stated.

Note also that China is ruled by a Communist oligarchy; unlike the U.S. and European nations they can ignore the suffering of millions of their "citizens" and pay no attention to public opinion. So what if the Chinese people lose ten years of life expectancy due to pollution? The oligarchs have oxygen masks, bottled water and air-conditioned luxury cars, not to mention countryside retreats.

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HeIsSoFly on December 31, 2006 - 5:07pm

It's because of these kinds of arguments that I see no improvement in the future. The problem is here, not over there, much as that would make you more comfortable.

Yes, HG, China uses more coal than the US. but then again the US uses more than Belgium. Does that mean the Flemish should complain about us, and you'll say they're right? My bet is you won't. How absurd will we get?

The US uses 10 times more energy than China per capita, and until we come down from that big time, the Chinese won't budge. Good on them.

And Don, do you really think the Communism vs Democracy that you're trying to establish will hold up for more than 2 seconds? That your leaders care more about you than the China Politburo does about their people?

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Don Sailorman on December 31, 2006 - 5:18pm

You can poke all the fun you like at the U.S. political institutions. In fact, we have a functioning republic. In fact, China is a Communist dictatorship. You may not like these facts, but my guess is that as long as historians write these big differences will be acknowledged.

Happy New Year!

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Kevembuangga on January 1, 2007 - 5:29am

China is a Communist dictatorship.

A "dictatorship", certainly, but how do you define Communist?
To use a metaphor probably of your liking, communism is as christianity, it has never been tried.
And probably never will, just for the same reason as christianity, not realistic.
In the meantime it comes handy as an epithet.

As for a "functioning republic" the US certainly is MUCH MORE CLEVER in its "functioning" than the USSR/China brutes, stealth bombers but also stealth torture : The History of U.S.Torture.
The US is slowly drifting toward Brazil (the Terry Gilliam movie, that is).

"Best Hopes" as one use to say for solving PO & GW problems in such a context.