In my discussions with other students, I learned about the perspectives of role of government’s involvement in its relation to the free society and climate policy. Specifically talking with Ruiying Xu (Ofelia), shed some light on our different government’s role within the restricting and overextending freedom to society. We compared the view of freedom between the United States and China, however drew to the same conclusions.
Here in America, we grow up with the understanding and expectation that freedom is universally equitable--whether or not we see it in reality. Meanwhile, China generally believes that freedom is fostered through maintaining order and structure to help the greatest number of people.
While this structure may limit some freedom to a portion of society, in the end, everyone can benefit from a collective and, ideally, supportive society.
The difference between the United States' outward view says a lot about the values of society and our misunderstandings of each other. Many Americans criticize China for its deconstructive role by limiting individual expression and right for free speech.
However, the American ideology has almost inadvertently limited the individual even more than China by allowing different individuals, such as large corporations to have the freedom to participate with limited restrictions within our governing body. For example, the oil industry has had the opportunity to pay lobbyists unbelievable amounts of money so that they may advocate for their needs. However, freedom of speech has inevitably limited the public by allowing the oil industry to expand and develop with minimal restrictions- ultimately depleting ecosystems and hurting communities. Both governing styles help facilitate structure just through different manners.