re: Parts of Beijing shut down due to smog

I told you baws about how many coal-fired power plants they put online. Usually one every 5 days. We're wasting time and money trying to save the planet. Who are the idiots now?

Adding India and China together, there are supposed to be around 450 coal plants being built this year

Only been to Beijing once (2007). I kept blowing dirty snot and blood out of my nose for 2 days after I got out of that shite-hole.

I hope all that smog doesn't stunt their growth.

A poliboard reminder, Barry got not ONE concession from China on pollution in the last "climate" treaty.


Zero.

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Who are these "people" you speak of? "People" are quite happy that there are air quality regulations.

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Do I need to show you where the poli board is?

If you say so. I say it is far more profitable to shut down your almost clean US factory, and open one up in China or Mexico where nobody gives a shite.

Depending on your size, you can spend thousands, hundreds of thousands, millions, or billions of dollars to comply with all the rules, regulations, and edicts, and still have the government and all of it's agencies up the arse of your mostly clean business, in a never-ending struggle to remain profitable.

Not sure why anyone would begin to argue the point, knowing that much of what you buy is made in China. It isn't by accident. Actions have consequences.

I understand that it is difficult for idealists to wrap their heads around the concept that using the force of government to enact laws that sound so lofty and wonderful, can actually be disastrous.

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I understand that it is difficult for idealists to wrap their heads around the concept that using the force of government to enact laws that sound so lofty and wonderful, can actually be disastrous.

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Ok then, if China and Mexico had strict regs like the U.S., then it wouldn't incentivize companies to manufacture there instead.

Obviously this will result in more expensive goods.. So be it I say. People would rather buy 5 cheap Chinese made piece of shite items that break all the time than 1 high quality expensive American made thing that will last for years. All the while this cheap consumerism is making parts of the world unlivable.

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difficult for idealists to wrap their heads around the concept that using the force of government to enact laws that sound so lofty and wonderful, can actually be disastrous.

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You bring up some decent points, but many environmental laws have been rolled out in phases. The idea being to not strangle the life out of industry. It allows pollution to be reduced incrementally, while allowing for costs and technology to catch up over time.

The real prohibitive costs you are talking about comes from years and even decades of ignoring regulations. The facilities then have to do a costly overhaul all at once.

I'm not an idealist, I just worked in the consulting industry for many years. Therefore I can tell you that you are incorrect about a lot as well. For example, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality sent the EPA a giant "FU" letter several years ago when the Quad O rules rolled out. Many state agencies struggle to balance industry needs while meeting environmental regulations.

Furthermore, for every environmental lobbyist there is one for O&G and other businesses. Plenty of proposed laws go up for debate only to be shot down or heavily amended.

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What's sad is that people will down vote you because environmental concerns have become a partisan issue.

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They've never been. How we deal with them is the partisan issue.

I don't agree withy over regulation, but what's wrong with having clean air and water? I'm willing to pay for that.