China seeks to cap and trade the American consumer

In the report, Li Gao is quoted as stating: "We produce products and these products are consumed by other countries. [...] This share of emissions should be taken by the consumers, but not the producers."

Therein lies the rub. The fundamental flaw in the cap and trade system is that it simply charges money, based upon the creation of alleged heat trapping gases. However, actual requirements for the producers of these gases to reduce or eliminate them, are virtually non-existent. Therefore, the responsibility to reduce such emissions can be completely avoided by any company that is willing to buy itself out of harm's way. This is exactly what the developing world's manufacturing interests are attempting to do, by denying any responsibility in the matter, and then by attempting to place the costs of the system upon the consumer.

So here's my personal Chinese emission reduction plan. Effective immediately, I shall make a focused effort to reduce China's carbon emissions burden by reducing my level of purchasing from that country in whatever ways I possibly can.

I shall not replace the cooling fan in my vehicle. It has gotten noisy over the years, and I was going to fix it, but it's still doing the job, so I'll put up with the noise as long as it works. I shall resist replacing my computer monitor. The resolution on this one has gone to hell, but I can still work with it, so I'll keep it as long as it works for me. I was considering the purchase of a new bicycle, but come to think of it, I bet I can find a great used one on eBay for about half the price of a new one. I'll be buying used blue jeans and second hand sweat shirts on eBay also. And instead of selling Chinese made items from my eBay account, I'll return to selling my back issues of DIRT BIKE and Maxim magazines. Those were printed here in America, and they're much easier to ship than wire butterflies, anyway.

Those Chinese manufacturers that are concerned about my personal carbon footprint may now rest easy. I hereby pledge to do my part to reduce my export burden on them. I assure you that it won't hurt me one bit. Perhaps you would like to join me in helping them to reduce their "incidental" carbon emissions.

Really, I think it's the least we can do.