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All valid points. The good news is that China has big ideas for dealing with these, and will actually implement them. I have no love for the CCP. I think they

All valid points. The good news is that China has big ideas for dealing with these, and will actually implement them. I have no love for the CCP. I think they are an oppressive regime that unduly subjects their people to censorship and control. But I do respect that they invest in infrastructure and solving big problems for their people. The US seems to have given up. It seems to think that the problems we face are unsolvable by cooperation and have resigned us to crumbling roads, poor health outcomes and failing schools so corporations can flourish.

seanmcdirmid 8y ago
The CPC has always had big plans for solving air pollution and smoking problems, ever since I started living there in 2007. Each campaign subsequently failed, so they don’t have a great track record on actually “getting things done.” Maybe it’s different this time, but a healthy dose of skepticism is definitely warranted. Once my wife was pregnant, we had to leave Beijing, there was no way the air pollution problem would have been solved in time, even if the air got twice as clean it would still be way too much. Say what you want about the USA, but being able to open my windows everyday is incredibly liberating.
- intopieces 8y ago
  The Economist says the opposite: https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2018/01/25/how-china-cut-its-air-pollution https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2018/01/25/...
  - seanmcdirmid 8y ago
    Are you saying that this article makes the claim that the government has successfully dealt with the problem or just that the current campaign seems to be effective?
siruncledrew 8y ago
Someone once told me: China is like the kid that has to be home by 8pm because his parents want to make sure he gets his homework done after dinner. The US is like the kid whose parents hired a nanny to make dinner for them and help the kid with his homework if he asks.

seanmcdirmid 8y ago

The CPC has always had big plans for solving air pollution and smoking problems, ever since I started living there in 2007. Each campaign subsequently failed, so they don’t have a great track record on actually “getting things done.” Maybe it’s different this time, but a healthy dose of skepticism is definitely warranted. Once my wife was pregnant, we had to leave Beijing, there was no way the air pollution problem would have been solved in time, even if the air got twice as clean it would still be way too much. Say what you want about the USA, but being able to open my windows everyday is incredibly liberating.

intopieces 8y ago
The Economist says the opposite: https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2018/01/25/how-china-cut-its-air-pollution https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2018/01/25/...
- seanmcdirmid 8y ago
  Are you saying that this article makes the claim that the government has successfully dealt with the problem or just that the current campaign seems to be effective?

siruncledrew 8y ago

Someone once told me: China is like the kid that has to be home by 8pm because his parents want to make sure he gets his homework done after dinner. The US is like the kid whose parents hired a nanny to make dinner for them and help the kid with his homework if he asks.