China’s Rapid Transformation: Cleaner Skies, Electric Vehicles, and Lessons for America’s Future

I’m currently traveling with my partner in China. My travel here was rather unexpected due to some family obligations but I’m glad I came. The last time I was in China was 10 years ago and I’m always amazed by how fast things change.

After we settled our family obligations, we took a high-speed train to Guilin and the famous Tower Karst formations along the Li River. While there I got to see just how the Chinese people are leaping ahead of us Americans. Food is ridiculously cheap and fresh; everyone is constantly eating and shopping. Healthcare is free and there’s construction everywhere.

What caught my attention was all the electric vehicles (EVs) driving around. I estimate that 75% of all vehicles I saw on the road were EVs or Hybrid EVs. This includes EV scooters and a few E-bikes. There were EV charging stations everywhere and for the first time since I started visiting China in 2002, I noticed the skies to be clearer.

Yes, when I first came here, the pollution was insane, but now I started noticing the air is cleaner.

Granted, China has some big problems and I’m not saying the grass is greener on the Asian side - it’s not - but they’re working hard to become a superpower worthy of respect. They’re increasing the living standards of their people and leading the world in renewable energy.

Meanwhile, the convicted felon President of the United States is regressing our country back to a time when people died of measles, women were slaves in the home, and only white men ruled the world.

My Asian relatives were aghast at the Zelensky/Trump meeting. This was plastered all over the media in China and everyone in my family agreed that Trump was acting like a gangster, trying to extort mineral rights from Ukraine. I watched it and shook my head. For the first time, I was ashamed to be an American.

I hate to say this but I believe the United States has jumped the shark. Trump is damaging so many things by estranging our allies and cozying up to Putin and Russia. His canceling of support for Ukraine will make it harder for them to win this war, and if Ukraine falls to Russia, so will the Baltic States and Poland.

Trump sat there and lectured Zelensky that he was playing with World War 3, and I say this is partially true. World War 3 is on the table but it’s Trump that’s instigating it - not Zelensky. He is a true man of honor who is fighting for his country and people.

Trump? He’s fighting for his wallet and penis.