One of the many benefits of unrestrained capitalism in China

[workinclasszero]

Beijing Air Quality Worst on Record

VOA News

January 13, 2013
Beijing is under an extreme smog warning Sunday, with pollution at hazardous levels for a third day, and people warned to stay indoors.

The municipal environment warning center issued an alert Saturday in China's capital, advising the elderly, children and those suffering respiratory or cardiovascular illness to avoid going out or doing strenuous exercise.

The center said Sunday that particulates small enough to deeply penetrate lungs were at nearly four times the level considered safe. The readings were called the worst on record.


http://www.voanews.com/content/beijing_air_qualirty_worst_on_record/1582832.html

[Buzz Clik]

1. I'm not sure we can assign this the an economic system, but ...

... we certainly know how to clean up the air.

The Chinese have made some choices and they are paying the price.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

3. But don't you think

we could assign it to an economic system because here in the US we had, more or less, the same problem until business and industry were forced to enact controls over what they put into the air. Remember the cries of 'smog regulations will put us out of business!'?
In China there is no one giving voice to that message.

[Buzz Clik]

4. The Soviets left behind a legacy of pollution that will take lifetimes to remedy.

Capitalists may be more consistent and more proficient in despoiling their habitat, but they are not alone.

[Wounded Bear]

2. Actually, I consider their system to be....

a bastard hybrid of the worst excesses of capitalism and communism.

A marriage made in hell.

[leveymg]

5. The giant Mickey Dee Talking Head in the center foreground says it all.

This has become a society with the worst of both worlds. Totalitarian Capitalism - State Socialism.