This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
At least twice President Donald Trump, during his speech about withdrawing from the Paris climate agreement, referenced how other countries "laugh" at the United States as he proffered justification for his conclusion.
It's a reminder that Trump reaches major decisions based less on logic and reason and more on feelings rooted in his insecurities and neuroses and his own misguided perceptions of America's roles on so many levels on the global stage.
Let's hope the rest of this country will follow Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto's stance, which is to say that his city will continue to "follow the guidelines of the Paris agreement for our people, our economy and future."
It's possible, once other countries stop laughing (if they're laughing at all) at the world's second leading producer of planet-warming greenhouse gases for withdrawing from the Paris agreement, that they will be angry with us. And that they will find one more reason to distance themselves from us, which could easily cost more jobs and hurt this country's economy and standing with other countries far more than any good Trump thinks or feels will come from his/Stephen Bannon's/Scott Pruitt's decision.
That's no laughing matter.
Stephen Speckman
Salt Lake City