ndbiker

I am not sure what you mean by "a unique viewpoint"? You fear the pollution from China because of the 100's of millions of Chinese who will want cars when they prosper. If living in cramped spaces and being able to walk everywhere was a universal value the Chinese aught to be the happiest society on the face of the earth. Most people in the world without cars are without them because they can't afford them and do not have the infrastructure not because they loath a mobile society. The fact is that mobility means freedom. The easier and less expensive it is the more free people are. When cars become a hindrance to that mobility (driving in NYC, London etc.) or are inherently slower then some people choose alternatives. Those habits can be changed by putting limits on peoples freedoms either indirectly such as very high taxes on energy or directly by limiting choices. I would be curious to see what the enlightened people of Europe would do in about 10-20 years if gas were the equivalent of $2.50/gallon.

We in the modern west have a very different idea of what "dirty" means than those at the turn of the century. Granted cars may have been few, but they nearly denuded our forests and hillsides cutting down trees and digging for coal to heat their homes. Horses, piled tons of manure up and down the streets and they were muddy and smelly. Sewage systems were rare and out houses which drew flies, rats and other diseases were much more common. Most people lived either in the country or in crowded cities. They could walk everywhere but lived in cramped homes with little light and lots and lots of dirt. The people of these times did not live in these conditions because they wanted to but rather they had to. It's the same with most second and third world countries today. Given the opportunity they will better their lives and one of the first ways they will do it is to improve their mobility. The idea of choosing to not be mobile when you have the capacity to do so is the "unique viewpoint".