Letter to the editor: Why don't 'greenies' talk about China's pollution?

Let us pretend for a moment that our creator does not have ultimate control over the Earth he created. Let us consider only science for the sake of this opinion letter.

In 1990 China’s total CO2 emissions were 2,173,360 kilotons. In 2019 China’s total CO2 emissions were 10,707,219 kilotons. In 1990, the United States’ total CO2 emissions were about 6,453,000 kilotons. In 2019 the United States’ total CO2 emissions were about 6,571,000 kilotons.

China’s increase came about in part by increased manufacturing supported by numerous American companies all too glad to take advantage of cheap labor and environmental regulations less restrictive than those in the United States. Also part of the increase came about by increased private vehicle ownership in China.

Global companies’ profits skyrocketed. Stock prices soared and ultimately made profits for the many 401(k) holders, which coincidentally, came into existence when Congress passed the Revenue Act of 1978. It was hard for workers to complain about the loss of manufacturing jobs when their 401(k)s flourished.

Maybe this is why “greenies” never talk about the world’s biggest polluter (China), or maybe they are just like their infamous atheist George Soros and hate America as he does. Or maybe American CO2 is worse on the climate than Chinese CO2.

Joe Hessom

Allegheny Township