why are Americans such Hypocrites?

Question

a recent AP article:
China's growing pollution reaches U.S.

MOUNT TAMALPAIS STATE PARK, Calif. - On a mountaintop overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Steven Cliff collects evidence of an industrial revolution taking place thousands of miles away.
The tiny, airborne particles Cliff gathers at an air monitoring station just north of San Francisco drifted over the ocean from coal-fired power plants, smelters, dust storms and diesel trucks in China and other Asian countries.
Researchers say the environmental impact of China's breakneck economic growth is being felt well beyond its borders. They worry that as China consumes more fossil fuels to feed its energy-hungry economy, the U.S. could see a sharp increase in trans-Pacific pollution that could affect human health, worsen air quality and alter climate patterns.

Question: U.S. is still the worlds largest polluter, where does it all go? Europe? why do Americans cry foul so easily? is it ok for America to say that China is damaging its environment while they are still the worlds largest polluter contributing to about 25% (China 5%) of all pollution in the atmosphere?

whole article here:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060728/ap_on_sc/trans_pacific_pollution;_ylt=AoqbysYljaehM8Wyu7DRasms0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3ODdxdHBhBHNlYwM5NjQ-

im Chinese-American... and im not critisizing Americans... since i am one... i am just stating facts...

if some people would bother to read the article b4 answering they will see that this article mentions nothing of Americas pollution... its an article stating that China is polluting ALMOST as much as America...

Answer 1

*bows with pride*

Answer 2

I agree that America has it's own issues and the typical problem is the ignorance of most of us here in America. However, in the last few years, many American companies have begun to take steps to improve the effects they have on the environment: green engine cars, more and more stop-gap measures to prevent contamination, etc.

AP and Reuters are hardly fair sources since they tend to only post the conflamatory information on any society for the international reader base to see.

However, yes, America dislikes being criticized and goes out of it's way to make itself feel better. (Hello, we're still in Iraq, aren't we?)

Why are Americans hypocrites? Because America is being lead and shaped by ignorance and hypocrasy. It's no better than genetic flaw.

Answer 3

Part of the problem is that you are grouping all Americans together as one.

This article sounds like it was largely written by someone fairly envrionmentally concious. This means that they probably also critisize the tendancy for Americans to polute as well.

The thing that bothers me about the American attitude toward polution (at least the government's reaction to the Kyoto treaty) is the "If you aren't restricting China, don't restrict us"

Answer 4

hehehe.. judging from the answers, being a polluter is a pre-requisite of being an american. hehehe..... ignorant fools.

but u r right mate, america has some control over media and they r not afraid to use it. not to forget that china is the next super power.

Answer 5

Read more.
Have you read that China is building 51 dams to corner the pollution in their rivers.
That says alot

Answer 6

Another forieneer critisizing Americans.

Answer 7

Who ever has the most power gets to make up the rules silly.

Answer 8

Darned shame. Do you believe all of the propaganda produced by the anti American media?

Answer 9

Maybe they are siding with the President and his ill-timed policies.

Answer 10

I assume you are not American. So obvious....