No, you didn't miss anything. And yet, just yesterday, I kept hearing people (who live in the US and presumably SHOULD know the facts) calling into a radio show that was discussing global warming talking about how "the US just HAS to start cleaning up the mess we've made."
Uh... exSCUSE me!!! Who led the world in auto emission controls beginning in the mid 1960s when US cars had PCV and vapor control systems and the rest of the world still had crankcase draft tubes?
WHO led in the elimination of leaded fuel and addition of catalytic convertors to reduce NOx and CO in 1975 while oh-so-responsible European countries had leaded fuel into the NINETIES!!!
Who led the way in cutting back (and ultimately eliminating) the use of CFCs in air conditiners and manufacturing?
Sure as hell not Europe, Asia, Central America, South America, or Mexcico... Hmmm. that leaves (wait for it....) The United States!
I'm sick and tired of hearing people bellyache about the US "not cleaning up" or not signing Kyoto when we're ALREADY cleaner than Kyoto requires countries like China and India to be. Kyoto is a crock. And its incumbent on the REST of the frickin' world to catch up to what the US has done before they start throwing stones. We're waiting.
Sorry. Pet peeve of mine.