Why 1.c4?

ok

Because we is such nice people?

Because it is a very good move

The real question is : Why isn't it played as much as 1d4 or 1e4 ?

cause its too explosive; might backfire

It allows you to play closed positions with more control over transpositions.  

To be nice with Black and let him fully equalize after 1...e5

1. c4 e5??? is blunder

English is a good opening

can allow for a less defined central pawn structure for white

can be also v aggressive if attacked ie by countering , good little opening tbh

You put the question marks in the wrong place.

1.c4?? e5! equalizes INMEDIATLY for Black.

Go and ask Kramnik why he plays 1.N-KB3

Look how you write moves, it explains what a patzer you are! 

I WRITE THEM LIKE BRONSTEIN WOULD

Wait. Would he write them like that? I red an article by Silman that said Muricans didnt want the Rusky algebraic notation.

IM CONFUSED.

But I guess Bronstein in his prime years would use descriptive notation.

So, here is how it would be in Russian (he was Ukranian, but lol, nobody talks Ukranian, and I doubt it even more in the SOVIET REPUBLIC)

1. K - KrS 3

"... White wants ... to control d5, obviously, and in particlar, to discourage ...d5. In the most general terms, we can say that the move d4 is White's next objective. ... by playing 1 c4, he discourages 1...d5?! 2 cxd5, which deprives Black of a centre pawn and gains a tempo after 2...Qxd5 3 Nc3. Secondly White may not want to expose himself to some of the annoyances that an early d4 brings; for example, a pin by 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 or a pawn confrontation by 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 c5. In contrast, after 1 c4 Nf6, White can abstain from that kind of confrontation by 2 Nc3 e6 3 e4 or 3 Nf3 ... . Likewise, after 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 g6 3 Nc3 Bg7 4 e4, White has a broad centre to defend and Black's counterplay is usually directed against the d4-pawn ... . By playing the English Opening, White has the opportunity to choose 1 c4 Nf6 2 Nc3 g6 3 g3 Bg7 4 Bg2 and then 5 e4 or 5 Nf3, in both cases foregoing an early d4 and leaving his pawns less subject to direct attack ... . Naturally, this comes without the advantages of controlling d4 and e5 that 1 d4 brings. ... [1 c4 e6 2 d4 d5] may suit White, ... who by using [that order] has sidestepped ... (after 1 d4 d5 2 c4) 2...dxc4 ..., 2...c6 ..., or 2...Nc6 ... . White can also play 1 c4 e6 2 Nf3, and upon 2...d5, he has entered a Reti Opening without having to face an early ...Bg4 or ...Bf5. ... Also [after 1 c4 c6] ... White can choose 2 Nf3, meeting 2...d5 with 3 g3 or 3 b3, entering what is called a Reti Slav variation. ... Another important idea after 1 c4 c6 is 2 e4. ..." - IM John Watson (2008)