China isnt the “adult”, that observation is framed within the orthodoxy of destruction that is the industrial socioeconomic system we are living in. There is no solution to any of this that an orgy of industrialisation can fix and this once again shows Chomsky’s observation on the media to be true.

The truly adult behavior is the complete reorganising of that system eg closing airports and banning flying, banning private cars, banning advertising and on and on .

Many years ago I watched a Jorgen Randers YT talk where he opined that democracy was the problem, appeasing the entitlement mindset would mean societies eventual collapse.

It’s not that I think he’s right, i don’t think he went far enough (eg Russia is not a democracy and it’s an giant shit show) , that “one thing” that’s the problem is homo sapiens. It’'s that we’re too stupid as a species and haven’t evolved enough. I lean towards John Grays observation on a rapacious hairless ape in that regard.

Greed And Stupidity Are What Will End The Human Race - Stephen Hawking