Thomas Friedman's Love Affair with China, Cont.

The Weekly Standard ^ | September 29, 2009 | Jim Prevor

[JimPrevor]

It is hard to know if Thomas L. Friedman’s love affair with China, already reaching approval of autocracy, is so intense that he is blind to reality or that he simply likes to pick and choose facts from China to buttress whatever he thinks we should do in America.

His recent column in the New York Times, "The New Sputnik," is mostly a recitation of what is widely known. China, both because it is increasingly concerned about pollution and because there may be business opportunities is looking to “go green” or, at least, more green than it has been as it has built, and continues to build, many coal fired electric generating plants, and typically without the latest anti-pollution technology.

This is not particularly surprising and has precious little to do with global warming. As populations become more affluent they tend to value less tangible goods such as cleaner air and water. Besides which coal is problematic for China, as its reserves are located distant from its population centers and its rail system is already straining with over half its total rail capacity being used to transport coal.

Friedman’s push is that China is doing more work in solar power and wind generation and this is, like Sputnik, a direct challenge to the U.S. that warrants a strategic response – by which he means a governmental response. He then blames business, in the form of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and says that the Chamber, “having sold its soul to the old coal and oil industries, uses its influence to prevent Congress from passing legislation to really spur renewables.”

One could read this column and never glean a hint that the primary way China is going green ... is by ramping up nuclear power plant construction:

[JimPrevor]

Thomas Friedman wants to have it both ways: He wants to say China's non-democratic government is filled with brilliant technocrats who are forcing China to do the "right" thing and we should emulate them. He also wants to ignore things he doesn't want to push, such as those same technocrats and their efforts to boost nuclear power.

[stephenjohnbanker]

I never read anything in the New York Times.

[Niuhuru]

The Chinese are smart in that they support the sciences and educators to the point of celebrity and they are working like mad to build their nation out of the Third World (status which must compeletely humiliate them) and they are going to be a major, non-benevolent power in the future. I also wonder why these liberal idiots are sincere in the belief that they will be the ones wielding the power along with the Chinese.

[La Lydia]

Would someone please post the obligatory aerial view of Thomas Friedman’s humongous house? So everyone can remember where he’s coming from.

[BigBobber]

Thank you! Was about to type the same thing.

[Oratam]

I wonder how much they’re paying him.