America is the most selfish country.

Sunday 27th July, 06:23 AM JST

Tokyo Gov Shintaro Ishihara, criticizing the Bush administration’s refusal to join the Kyoto Protocol on climate control (Washington Post)

Latest 15 of 44 Total Comments Show All

tigris at 03:01 AM JST - 28th July

From the EIA, Official Energy Statistics from the US Government:

"The United States uses a lot of energy—nearly a million dollars worth each minute, 24 hours a day, every day of the year. With less than five percent of the world’s population, we consume about one fourth of the world’s energy resources."

http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/energyfacts/saving/efficiency/savingenergy.html
Blue_Tiger at 06:04 AM JST - 28th July

Coming from Shintaro Ishihara, that's a comliment. When a racist, immature, bigoted, narrow-minded, corrupt, shady government official -- especially the governor of the most heavily-populated state and cty in the world whose notorious for putting his foot into his mouth -- calls your country "selfish", that should be taken as a badge of honor.

Cleo, the reason we elected George W. Bush twice is because the alternatives were jokes to begin with. I shudder every time I think of how close Gore came to winning, then, ten months later, the terrorist attacks happening.

As far as the Kyoto Accords, why is Shintaro Ishihara not calling Red Chuina and India selfish, as well? Don't they both produce more greenouse gasses than the USA? I pray that the electorate of Tokyo will do us al la favor and remove this man from office at the enxt election cylce....
drw1926 at 06:07 AM JST - 28th July

The whole concept of the "Kyoto Protocol" being based in Japan is farcical, when in fact the Japanese government has some of the most self-destructive ecological and environmental policies of any developed nation in the world today. Japan likes to promote the 'old Japan' ideals of one being in harmony with nature, but nothing could be further from the truth. I have nearly finished reading a book titled "Dogs and Demons" (Hill & Wang, 2001) by a gentlemen named Alex Kerr, and some of the issues he exposes are jaw-dropping.

What a striking coincidence that one of the very issues Mr. Kerr brings up in the book, about Chisso Corp's. ties to "Minamata Disease" (which primarily relates to the issue of toxic waste disposal) is also in the headlines on JT today. This was first identified back in 1956 and the Japanese government was sued soon thereafter, yet this case still has not been resolved over 50 years later. I'd like to hear Ishihara's defence of that issue (and I have no doubt he would defend the Goverment's position.)
outofmydepth at 07:38 AM JST - 28th July

consider the source....garbage in - garbage out.
Alphaape at 09:27 AM JST - 28th July

cartman, one thing to remember when the US sends its military to do humanitarin work. Roughly about 6000 of the troops sent were Reservist, that is they were called up. So in addition to the troops on active duty, the US had to foot the bill for additional members to be called on active duty. Also, the ships that were there, were on their way back from the Persian Gulf, and were delayed in returning home.

Not to mention, the extra flight hours and wear and tear on the equipment gets passed along to the taxpayer. Repairs are done on equipment that has been used to support humanitarin efforts that is normally geared for warfighting.

So, maybe the US does not just write a "blank check" to poorer nations, but we do give a lot to help out. Never have we presented a bill to a country that says you owe us.

I also seem to recall that earlier in the "W" administration that the UN was beefing because the US had not paid its dues, since he thought we were not getting our money's worth for all that we pump into the organization. I would like to see the actual breakdown that Japan gives in terms of pure donations, and not special loans that they give.
MPNiea at 02:23 PM JST - 28th July

America is selfish. How dare they contribute only 80% of all world aid! They should be forking over 20 times rather than 10 times more than any other country on this earth. Instead of 48 billion dollars to combat AIDs in Africa, President Bush should have allocated 100 billion. Same with contributions to help pre-industrial nations. Instead of a few billion, they should be paying 100% of the bill for all the countries not as productive as China. Who cares about whether or not Americans can afford paying for their own lifestyles. They should only be concerned about other people in countries whose governments cannot possibly take care of them.
Surge at 02:43 PM JST - 28th July

USA is the most generous nation on earth. Generous to our own people, and to ungratefull foreigners. We are the worlds richest, and the envy of the world. Welcome to Utopia, welcome to the USA.
freakashow at 09:40 PM JST - 28th July

I mean, just who exactly was collecting this data, and how ? And are the same standards applied around the world ? You'd be surprised at how many nations openly admited their co2 numbers were fudged during the run-up to the kyoto protocol ! Having lived in Japan for numerous years I can assure you I've never seen such a wasteful nation

You're right. We shouldn't trust data for anything. Heck, how can we trust the other data from another article that says Tokyo is the second most expensive city? Right. But of course, you like to only believe in data that says things that you agree with and like to discount data that says the opposite of what you believe in, now don't you? Anything that says something negative about the U.S. has to be false, and everything that says something good about the U.S. has to be true.
vawiha at 11:47 PM JST - 28th July

Consider the source - Shintaro Ishihara. A selfish, profiteering racist.
kimigano at 10:49 AM JST - 29th July

blacktea,

You can do entire courses in it at American Ivy league colleges.

So it's elitist liberal thinking?

Again, where is the proof of the original claim? Someone claims the US is trying to secretly take over the world, yet offers no proof or evidence. You defend them by saying there are Ivy League courses on the topic. Wow...

Let's see some proof that will stand up in a court of law!
usaexpat at 11:28 PM JST - 29th July

I half expected this quote to come from some Banana Republic or African dictator. I think Ishihara better remeber which side his bread is buttered on and shut his hole. Japan's economy depends on exports to the US so no need to go upsetting your biggest customer. America's deep pockets have allowed you and your ilk the rich graft you've enjoyed all these years. America may be selfish but so is any country including Japan, they may cloak their motives in humanitarian clothing but each country pursues its own interests first.
usaexpat at 11:38 PM JST - 29th July

One more just because, how does Japan have any credibility on ecology? Go down to the nearest beach and try to guess how many tons of those concrete jumping jacks have been spilled into the ocean for so called "erosian control" Go google Isahaya Bay and see if you think that would have been allowed in the US? I love Japan but they have systematically destroyed their own environment due to the cozy realtionship between construction companies and government. The Kyoto protocal is not in the US interest period, we have already seen our manufacturing base decimated by China. I would bet a lot of other developed nations who signed and are wagging their fingers at us are thankful they can use our refusal as an excuse to not comply. Beyond all that the debate is not over, you can find equal numbers of scientists who believe and dis-believe that global warming is man made. I don't personally care which position you take but if you want to address global warming it has to include evryone including developing nnations and not end up being another stone around the 1st world's neck.
Suwon at 04:00 PM JST - 30th July

If US is selfish...Japan is Hypocrite
madammiz at 02:45 PM JST - 2nd August

Ishihara is an idiot, Bush is an idiot - in fact most politicians around the world are idiots but they run the countries we live in and other than every 4 years or so, do we get to say whats going on!! America is selfish?? No more than any other country in the world!!!!!!!!!
Sarge at 03:01 PM JST - 2nd August

"America is the most selfish country"

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!