Our Polluting Economy

I have been known to complain about the media's hypocritical treatment of the economy of China. Several times a week, the negative effects of economic growth in East Asia hit the news stands while economic growth in the US is described as one of the greatest of common goods achievable by the human race. So, today, I finally heard a news story that mentioned how the steep decline in Michigan's industrial sector over the last ten years might be positive for the environment vis a vis a lower rate of carbon emissions.

UPDATE!
In the comments, V points to a excellent article in Mother Jones about the hypocrisy of focusing attention on the lack of regulation in Chinese manufacturing while overlooking the lack of US oversight. Here's a quote:

Most of the stories have focused on the lack of manufacturer oversight in China. But the root of the problem is closer to home: The CPSC, created to prevent hazardous products from winding up in American homes, has been gutted by decades of manufacturer lobbying and White House interference—and the Bush administration has finally paralyzed it to the point that it can barely function.

But don't worry; Bush isn't the only one to get some blame. Reagan's in there too and Clinton doesn't end up looking that great either.