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Subscribe to RSSBEIJING – As news spread this week that after decades of growth, China had officially passed Japan to become the world’s second-largest economy, behind the United States, I was on the outskirts of western Beijing for the unveiling of the third generation of China’s “pod houses.”
Huang Rixin, a spritely 78-year-old former engineer turned Beijing landlord, has made a name for himself in recent months producing cage-like, 21.5-square-foot living spaces dubbed “capsule apartments” for the capital’s burgeoning class of jobless and underemployed college graduates.
Photo by Wang Yish/Imaginechina
Two Chinese men sit in their own small spaces in capsule apartments in Beijing, China, in a photo taken June 12, 2010.
Taking Japan’s famous capsule hotels for inspiration, Huang has improved on previous iterations of his pod houses by doubling the size of the rooms and including more shelf space. Huang views his pods, with rent of about $51 a month, as a cost-effective way to house the estimated 3 million recent university graduates seeking employment or earning less than the average starting salary of approximately $400 a month.
In many ways his capsule apartments highlight the social and economic problems that belie China’s gaudy GDP numbers.
Even as the national economy surges, China’s per-capita income has simply not kept pace, and millions of people have been left out of the nation’s economic miracle.
China’s per-capita income, at around $6,600, is closer to that of Turkmenistan or El Salvador, rather than to the U.S.’s $46,000 or even Japan’s $33,000.
While China’s liberalized economic policy has certainly pulled hundreds of millions of people out of poverty and transformed the country into an industrial dynamo, little of that prosperity has trickled down to the majority of would-be Chinese consumers – the very people who many economic experts insist will fuel China’s growth well into the 21st century.
One such expert is economist and Peking University professor Michael Pettis. In an excellent blog post this week, Pettis, succinctly summed up this point, writing, “In order to reduce China’s excessive dependence on export surpluses and investment, it is vitally important that household consumption, which in China represents probably the lowest share of GDP ever recorded, rise significantly.”
Not enough ‘Made in China’ consumed there
For better or for worse, China’s Communist Party has tied the legitimacy of its power to elevating the economic situation of its people. So far, this approach has paid off, as Chinese citizens over the years have enjoyed healthier incomes and lifestyles.
However, as time has gone by, China’s economic model – modeled on the Japanese system of subsidizing growth through heavy capital investment, easy low interest government loans and an undervalued currency – has proven to be too successful, essentially starving domestic consumption in favor of national growth through export.
In short: Too little of what China produces ends up consumed by the Chinese themselves.
The government has tried a variety of strategies to curtail this trend and boost consumption. This summer has seen a rash of labor unrest as the government allowed Chinese workers to agitate for higher wages. It also introduced government subsidies on a number of products ranging from cars to household appliances in a bid to generate domestic consumer spending.
Both proved successful, yet as Pettis noted, consumer consumption in 2009 was still less than 36 percent of GDP, which is an almost unheard of number for such a massive economy.
In essence, China is still the largest market in the world for virtually everything, and despite claims otherwise, Chinese consumers are very willing spenders. However, Chinese wages are currently so low that consumers simply are unable to contribute to domestic consumption unless serious wealth redistribution or salary adjustment occurs.
Tokyo’s take
Meanwhile in Japan, the government’s reaction to being surpassed by their Asian neighbor was so calm, it set off alarm bells.
Japan's economic minister Satoshi Arai said, “It doesn't matter who comes out at the top or bottom. It simply represents each country's current economic health.”
But that thought was not shared by the rest of the country. Practically all of the major Japanese newspapers had editorials warning that Japan was in desperate need of serious change.
In particular, the Nikkei, the largest business daily, lashed out at Prime Minister Naoto Kan’s administration, writing: “The current policies of the Japanese government are not only marked by underestimating fiscal analysis, but they're also extremely ill-equipped to deal with any crisis both in terms of posture and structure."
Hiromichi Shirakawa, chief economist for Credit Suisse explained why he believes Japan is in it's current predicament. "The biggest problem for Japan right now is that there is a significant lack of demand, and also whether they're individuals or corporations, everyone here is exercising 'precautionary saving' against an unpredictable future.”
"It was just a matter of time,” said Shirakawa. “Japan's economy has been contracting while China has been expanding. Japan has already lost in terms of ‘quantity’ and now it's time to look at the aspect of ‘quality’ such as people's personal income and purchasing power.”
Social unrest concerns lead to subdued announcement
Back in China, in the past, a seminal moment like the nation’s elevation to the No. 2 spot would have been heavily played up in state media as proof of increased Chinese prosperity and global relevance.
However, while local news reports have noted the event, they were quick to note the country’s low per capita income and the need for continued gradual economic progress.
The Chinese coverage seemed to be low key in comparison to Western coverage, which highlighted the milestone as front page news and analyzed its implications for the broader global economy.
But it seems that concerns over class friction and social unrest led to the subdued way the announcement was made domestically in China. In the year alone, the central government that has found itself enmeshed in a host of social class issues that run the gamut from dating shows and local government corruption to the rights of household pets.
Whatever their concerns, China has earned its moment in the sun. Deep economic, environmental and social issues lurk, and only time will tell whether China’s status is sleight of hand or real. However, there is no denying that in only 30 years, China has transformed itself into one of the greatest economic power houses in world history.
Whether that economic stature is fleeting – as it was for the Japan – or relatively more long-term, as it has been for the U.S., will bear close watching.
NBC News' Arata Yamamoto contributed to this report from Tokyo.
Leave a Comment:
"...Chinese wages are currently so low that consumers simply are unable to contribute to domestic consumption unless serious wealth redistribution or salary adjustment occurs."
While China looks for ways to overcome this problem, the U.S. is moving toward this problem. We would do well to learn from this (that wealth doesn't trickle down) and make changes now to preserve our working middle class.
After Obama and his merry band of incompetent Loons are done with our economy, these 'Pods" will be the new "middle class" dream home!
you sound the fool, as you obviously are spouting party retoric, with absolutely no knowledge of economics or for that matter, truth
The world won't have enough resources if China and India population became resource heavy users like USA. Can 2 billion people live in big houses like here in USA?
Why is it that people that name themselves using "patriot" never are?
The problem is that China has been artificially depressing the value of it's currency. This means that the people can not afford to buy goods and it amounts to a subsidy on the price of exported goods. The US needs to pressure China to let the value of it's currency float like every other major currency in the world. If they refuse, the US should institute high tariffs on all Chinese goods to adjust for this de facto subsidy. It is the only way US based manufacturers will ever be able to compete again against Chinese made goods.
Problem is the US can not pressure China to do anything since all of our "stimulus" money is borrowed from the Chinese. I am surprised that China's economy is number two. Since we are paying off most of our bills with borrowed Chinese money, I thought their economy would be number one by now. If we try to "pressure" China to do anything our loans will be payable in full. The "owned" can not pressure the "owner" to do anything.
J.S. in S.D. : I see you got past Econ.101. Excellent post!
to JohnChingHK: Don't blame the U.S. for China's problems. There are also a lot of Chinese "heavy resource users" here in the U.S., it's not only U.S. citizens. Americans are very generous; if you don't like our lifestyle, don't come here.
We went through the same economic issues with Japan after WWII. Japan workers were paid 10 cents an hour. Eventually, China work force will start making higher wages. Before you know it China will have to relocate many of the jobs back to the US. Japan had to do this with Toyota, Nissan, etc. The kicker is can we survive China then India both coming online without destroying the US economy. Time will tell.
The economic lesson to take from this article is that GDP alone is not a good measure of a successful economy.
At least our "pods" are recyclable...cardboard boxes. Many of our veterans, who died to make us free to live in our apartments and suburban homes, live in these "cumfy", well insulated, and water-proof, "mobile" homes, under sturdy, earthquake resistant bridges and over-passes. They are usually close to their place of off-ramp "employment" centers, with no further need for transportation services. The "free" shopping carts from nearby super-stores are larger now and provide ample room to store and keep all their belongings in a safe and organized space. These handy storage units are designed to withstand hurricane force winds and standing water up to 20 inches. What more could a US Veteran want for risking his life for a flag? Especially when he can't even afford one. Come on, all you "red necks", let's all wave one for the "gipper". I think the one I got on sale was made in, uh, CHINA.
Wait a minute...if they "died" to make us free, then what do they need all this stuff for? Let's give it to the one's who somehow lived. Free "pods" under the bridge of your choice. It doesn't get any better than that.
@ Franklin -774221 And the economy we inherited from the previous administration was SOOOOO healthy. Yeah right. Get a grip.
As un-employment keeps rising we will need these in America. Max Florida Un-employment = $250 a week, between food and healthcare its all I can afford
Free health care at the V.A. and food stamps for those on unemployment. Keep posting your Birther, Bagger, every man for himself, on other blogs though. It's very entertaining.
Good luck with that, Navy Vet....
Yeah- I'm positive that we'll see those here, too. Unfortunately, they won't be anywhere near as cheap.
It'll become the 'norm' for us- another new standard of living
Automation, computers, robots....call them what you like, The working class jobs will be gone. Who will hire a human when the machine works 24/7. No harassment, no sick leave, no maternity leave, no sabotage, no honest mistakes. It is inevitable. We need to find a new way to "share the wealth" and I HATE SOCIALISM!!! (spent some time in Scotland....HORRIBLE!).
We cannot be wage slaves if there are no wages. This is not my hope or idea. This is inevitable.
As cost of living increases in the USA or China, people need to move away from the expensive coastal cities into the sparsely populated central regions of the country where the living costs are less, there is more land and more opportunities for subsistence living with inputs from hunting and fishing. This goes for both China and the USA. Industries moving to these regions would find lower land costs also, thus relocating populations more evenly across the land and lessening human hardships.
Hmmmmm.... maybe we'll all be robot repairmen
as far as moving off the coastlines.., they'll be sinking, soon. That joke about beach property in Nevada might come true
There... southern georgia.. west virginia...
So much for higher education for everyone. When everyone has a masters degree than the degree is worthless.
Navy Vet.....Free health care at the V.A. and food stamps for those on unemployment. Keep posting your Birther, Bagger, every man for himself, on other blogs though. It's very entertaining.
frank.......a GED is worthless. When only 20% of the U.S. population have college degrees or higher, we have a long way to go before a Masters is worthless.
Hey Wad, I have GED spent 10 years in the military and Im now earning 6 figures. Hows that for useless. By the way I never saw a Marine lose a navy gate the entire time I served. Good job Semper Fi
Frank, you must be able to correctly use 'than' and 'then' before you can post about masters degrees.
Many BAs, BSs, and Masters are worthless unless specialized. Doesn't just about every family have someone who has one or both and they still work at Starbucks or retail sales? A BA today is like a high school diploma 40 years ago, and a Masters is equivalent to a BA or BS. Unless you go to an Ivy League school or highly specialize in a critical or needed field, unemployment and underemployment runs very high for those in so called "easy majors".
Not rocket science, I run a medium sized company.
I pay my hourly employes a piecework rate.
Those people average $18.10 an hour,, with no special skills and only what they have learned here.
Most of them make around 14.00 an hour, tell you anything?
Education is valid for any job. I geta sense of entitlement from you. I WANT my garbage collector to be a PHD. He will understand the importance of his work and do a better job of it. The problem, as I perceive it is those with a degree feel they are "owed" a $60K - $70K starter job. BS!!!
I'm a grad. 25 years later I earn +/- $60K. I'm frugal but my life is good. My education is more vital to my life decisions and actions than it is to my work.
The Chinese university degree??? I have no idea what they teach. This is a concern for America also. We make great technicians but not such great thinkers, questioners, solvers. Many of my degree'd (sorry) friends and coworkers could not find their way out of a paper bag without instructions, and they would follow the instructions even if it involved jumping off of the proverbial cliff.
I disagree. I think the asset for Americans, the thing that sets us apart, is our ability to think, question and solve. Most other countries wait for us to create so they can analyze what we have created and then improve on it. I do not see many original ideas coming from China and other countries. We create it and ship it to them to build it. We think it's cheaper than having an American build it but by the time we have sent them all of the diagrams and schematics they improve on it and wait for our next idea.
A lot of education or little education I encourage you to think, it aint illegal yet. And stop blaming and giving credit to Regan, Bush Sr., Clinton, Bush Jr. and Obama. Sink or swim, rise or fall, succeed or fail it is up to us as Americans. We are bigger than a President, the Senate and Congress. Somewhere down the line we forgot that and we let these guys run on auto pilot.
China got much of it's technology by American businesses giving it away. Generations of American workers develope the expertise to make a product, then management decideds to ship those jobs overseas and they teach Chinese how to make the product, sometimes even shipping the equipment to China and some of the soon-to-be unemployed to show them how to use it. So for a few years the company does well after the workers are unemployed. But the how-to now belongs to the Chinese. How long before the Chinese cut the company out and make the management who gave away the expertise unemployed as well?
Thank you for your common sense, non-partisan comment! I loved it -- a novel concept of taking responsibility to be sure!
American's need to grow some nad's like our Forefather's.
3.1 Marine vet: the number of 4-yr. degrees is 26.1 in the U.S. I've watched it go UP as the ability to independently think & reason goes DOWN. I hve no idea of the number of Master's.
Frank: sorry, but M.S. Degrees are going wanting depending on what they are in.
There IS something to be said about Don's comment about moving inland. Did it for retirement & live much cheaper than the East Coast, not to mention the lack of congestion, the increased safety, & the congeniality of the people.
PuCkiE: I got where you are coming from. Got a kid that did essentially the same thing after quitting college with almost a 4.0 average & never studied ( his friends told me). 5 yrs. later after the Marines, he left & also is making 6 figures. But it's in electronics & he has to keep getting higher & higher "ratings" to do so. Education never stops.
I agree with you on the specialized degrees. Those are the ones that makes the $$.
Seriously, I don't see how people expect to get top notch jobs with high salaries with these generic degrees like biology, english, or even art?
It will never happen that everyone will have a Master's degree, so your statement is inaccurate and untrue.
Only 30% of the adult population has a bachelor's degree; a mere 12% of all adult women have advanced degrees (Master's, Ph.D.). More women are entering college than men, for the first time in history. But don't worry, there will always be someone to collect the trash, drive the buses, be the secretaries, work in assisted living centers, banks, and restaurants. There is plenty of work to do in this country, don't be fooled by the media reports.
And, by the way, those degrees are not worthless. It depends on how you use the degree. If you actually learned something in college, you learned to think critically. Get busy and stop whining and blaming, it's enough already!!
Education is never worthless.
The United States could (and must) take a few economic lessons from China. We must re-industrialize and start manufacturing steel, autos, glass, shoes, textiles, rubber, tires, electronics, etc., etc. And we must sell it to the rest of the world. To do that, we need an equalizer for China. I suggest, first, balancing the federal budget, i.e., stop borrowing from China. Second, start paying down the debt we owe China. Third, revoke China's most-favored-nation trading status. Fourth, impose massive tarriffs on anything made in China, using the money to help ameliorate China's raping of the environment. Fifth, use containment, i.e., arm Taiwan to the teeth; recognize Taiwan as a free democracy and pledge to defend them; and cozy up to Vietnam and India. Perhaps put American bases in Vietnam.
China has been promising since the time of Marco Polo to open its domestic markets. So far, they haven't. The British got tired of those promises and launched the Opium Wars.
Very well said Scott
I hear it, and I hear it and I hear it.
Google what happens when you start hitting them with massive tariffs.
The US worker is pricing him/her self out of the market.
Keep doing it, jobs will continue to leave.
The employer today, pays the cost of calculating and sending the money, to the federal, state and local governmnets.
Then they pay SS for each employee, UE insurance Osha coast Erisa Costs, detc.
You can put a stop to it, or they will continue to leave.
Go ahead whine, complain talk about the rich, it will continue to go on just like it is, suck it up or when reality gets, here , hand out, wanting payment, you'll be in the streets rioting.
Well, I agree with point one and two but not your opening point. Manufacturing will not create working class jobs. (perhaps some jobs in robotics for a few years...) The remainder of your post only leads to war, which does create "work" for humans. So sad.
How is the U.S. worker to compete when he is being gouged by every business he depends on. Wages have stagnated, but housing costs, medical costs, higher education, and energy keep right on increasing. If health insurance cost the same in the U.S as in China, and housing cost the same, and everything else cost the same, the U.S. worker is more productive and could compete. But business is squeezing the U.S. worker, all the costs of living here keep on going up, but business wants the U.S. worker to work for less? How about doctors work for less, hospitals charge less, electric companies charge less. Ask yourself, when wages stay the same, but the cost of products go up, where does the additional money go? Why it goes into corporate profits and CEO wages, of course.
I'd add allowing Japan to amendthier constitution so they can field more than a National Guard... if you want to see the Chinese freak out. As for US manufacturing... I'm not sure what that is. Do we evenhave any significant manufacturing in the US anymore or has it all gone to Mexico, Indonesia and elsewhere?
In the meantime, wages for CEOs has skyrocketed. Wonder where they got all that money from....
They had it backwards, twenty years ago- they should have sent upper management jobs overseas and busted THEIR balls
There are so many distortions, lies and nonsense it's difficult to know where to start. The US is the #2 manufacturer in the world. So I guess we still make something.
The average federal government worker makes 30-100% more than the average private sector worker depending on region - and the average total income for the fed workers is now $100k+. This job segment has grown by 250,000 jobs under the new regime. What in the hell are they thinking?
We expand government, with big fat paychecks, benefits and retirement during a time of economic downturn? Only a complete idiot would think this makes sense.
CEO's don't make "wages", and honestly, their number is ridiculously small - who cares what they make - Government is far exceeding anything that private business is doing regarding overspending, piling on new debt, and destroying our nation.
All of the money comes from the private sector - every stinking dime. So who/what do liberals attack? Yeah, private sector. First they are greedy and irresponsible - so Obama and Co give out a trillion or two - a real man of the worker alrighty.
Then these same empty headed liberals complain because now Corporate America is behaving more responsibly by socking away cash for a second downturn, which is inevitable. I bet their existing employees are pretty happy that their employers are choosing to act responsibly so they may keep their jobs for a while rather than behaving like our criminal government spending ever last borrowed cent, while they party, run up their bar tabs, and spend millions each and every day on their "ruling class" lifestyle, knowing that when they finally get fired, they receive lifetime benefits.
Why doesn't Obama and the party of the working class do what Arnold Schwarzenegger did and pay themselves $1 a year until the fix this crap-sandwich?
You hit the nail right in the head. Get rid of them after 4 years with the types of pensions we get on the out side of our government.
Uh...Yeah, Paul- They DO make salaries- along with the stock options, bonuses, perks, healthcare and retirement paclages. Salaries have averaged over Ten Million for the last couple of years; things have been a little tough for em, lately
THEN, don't forget the rest of upper management, too... Veeps, CFOs, CIOs, Controllers, Sales, Legal, HR types... big bucks and salaries are definitely a part of the equations
oops... I'm going to have stand corrected- the average was 9.26 million in 2009
it was worst than I thought
and... there's several thousand companies, so the figures do add-up
Don in La La Land: I have NO idea where u get ur figures for top management for companies/corporations, but it ain't in this universe. (Maybe a parallel one?)
My husband retired 2 & 1/2 yrs ago as PRESIDENT of a PROPRIETARY SECONDARY SCHOOL. Yes, he made in the 6 figures. HOWEVER!
1st. "they" took away defined pension bennies. Then "they" took away bonuses. You know-what comes from doing an outstanding job; better than the next guy in your position? They "they took away stock options; no reason. So, my dear little friend, it ain't "them" against "us." It's an incredibly small portion of a company making those million $ salaries. It's just been blown all out of proportion by everyone thinking that the banking industry is representative of the average, corporation in America.
None of that is going to happen...period.
you might as well advocate a US/China cold war
Well, Vicky NOT in la-la land... I got them from a site that tracks them.
As far as your husband goes... how sad.
No- REALLY. I think educators are worth the money
BUT, Vicky-NOT-in-La-la-land
THERE's A LOT of companies that pay A LOT of money to UPPER MANAGEMENT.
We're NOT talking a FEW
I didn't even mention Wall Street bonuses, before, but that should make a fine example
One simple answer to the ever-growing problem of stagflation: unions. Band together and fight for better wages. Otherwise, we'll all be working 80 hours per week at 1948 wages.
Scott Adkins:
China is not the Boogie Man as some media would like you to believe. USA has financial trouble not because of China but because America borrowed and spent too much. America's Great Recession is a domestic product. But for the nearly $1trillion Treasury bond sold to China, from where would the US government fund unemployment benefit, TARP, bailouts, and two wars? China did not and could not force Americans to buy Made In China. China did not and could not force US multi-national corporations to build factories in China. More importantly, China could not stop the Federal Reserve from printing, 24/7, the debased green-back used to pay off the Treasury notes. As for a military base in Vietnam, even if possible, America is going broke paying for all the existing military bases around the world.
Protectionism and tariff cut both ways. Arming Taiwan to the "teeth" is meaningless as Taiwan has more investment in China than USA if measured by the size of the its GDP. In addition, the American taxpayers can barely, or some would say reluctantly, keep the US military fully armed, let alone arming Taiwan.
In the late 1800s, China imposed trading restrictions or tariff or protectionism on European and American goods. Unable to sell legitimate goods to the Chinese, the British opium traffickers flourished instead. Like today's Mexican drug cartels pushing ever more cocaine into USA, the British opium traders wanted more market share to snare a larger population of addicts. As the western naval power forced open China's harbors, the British opium traffickers managed to transform three out of four adult Shanghai women into prostitution. The situation became so alarming that the Chinese government cracked down on the opium traders as well as their collateral business. After the British businessmen solicited help from their government, the Chinese and the British fought The Opium War. Subsequently, the British's greater military might defeated the Chinese and China's major cities became opium dens.
Great post, FatCat
But you missed-out on adding a little irony, here. The Boxer Rebeliion (Opium War) was because the British wanted all the gold China would not give up (and China had a LOT). So, to get it, The British decided to find a way to get it all and settled on Opium as the "perfect" method.
The Opium grew well in the fields of Afghanistan, where the British could grow cheap cash crops. It has been thriving there, ever since
A little more irony... The Boxer Rebellion was the first time Americans had ever heard of Kung Fu
They liked it
Don Smith:
Perhaps in the past two generations, the first time American ever heard of Kung-Fu was watching David Carradine eating To-fu. Or was it the other way around?
Where do these people toilet and shower, keep their clothes, etc. ???
Who says they do Annie, Ive had the opportunity to pick up several of our companies Chinese employees. They show up wearing ALL the clothes they need for a week on. Yes ON. One guy had, and this is no lie. Pajamas, Casual shirt, and 2 suits with two ties in his pockets. The smell was horrible it took me two days to get it out of my car.
Calling the Chi-Comms offensively stinky is a bit over the top. unless you have smelled their breath!
A pod house is better than being homeless.
Many Americans would have been economically better off living in smaller houses with mortgages they could more quickly pay off. Unfortunately, we need high housing costs to insulate ourselves from those who are greatly affected by the root causes of crime and academic failure (racism, poverty and economic inequality).
imagine if China and India became as big resource hogs as most USA residents, there would be a shortage of everything we take for granted now. How can the world have enough for everyone who want to live in a big house like here in USA?
The Chinese are every bit of the big resource hog that America is if not worse. Their industry is not regulated as strictly. On a consumer level per capita it may be less due to remoteness and poverty.
Alot of us rent apartments and they are plenty small, already and cost a HELL oifalot of money
The value of goods produced by China's factories reached about $1.6 trillion last year, compared to $1.7 trillion by U.S. manufacturers.
With the difference being that close, China will probably pass America by next year. Can everyone say thank you in Mandarin...Xie xie.
65% of the imports to the US from China are from US companies with plants there.
So , they are not actually China's factories.
"she! she!" lol
The ailing US economy is due to American Corporations outsourcing American jobs to foreign countries because of their cheap labor forces and laxed environmental and employee safety laws. Two ways to turn the ailing American economy around is to place massive tariffs on foreign goods produced by American Corporations operating overseas to create American jobs which cannot be outsourced.
Housing for slave labor, When the Republicans get done with us we will be living in these things
Dean, are you sure you have your parties right? I'm thinking this is where obamy has us headed Comrade.
PfukiE, it is clear that you have little education!
If you actually read the article, you will notice that China is a communist nation. (you don't seem to realize that.)
It's funny that all you people who lamely accuse President Obama of being "Communist, Socialist, Stalinist, Blah, Blah" --you always defend Communist China and its cheap junk that puts Americans out of work, while pretending to be anti-communist patriots.
--You're traitors and Benedict Arnolds, that's all.
Tell you, what you do, you keep right on doing what your doing, have a great time, scream at all of the people that think Mr. Obam is driving this country to destruction. Call them names, tell thm about how you are sick of them.
Have no idea what the time frame is, shortly, reality, will come to your house.
It won't listen, when you cry about sleeping in the streets, it won't cry when you get hungry.
It will just arrive and it will have no mercy, then you are going to be in the street setting fires and breaking windows, probelem, there?
This is not nanny states, Europe, we have the 2nd amendment
Those people will hurt you.
The truth as I see it is that Republicans tried "trickle down economics" and it was a disaster. Tax cuts for rich people don't trickle down, they pay the costs of shipping jobs overseas. Trickle down economics hollowed out our manufacturing; many of the brands we all know are now merely distributors for Chinese goods. Then W, who did not believe in regulation just stopped doing it, and did not even keep a close eye on what was happening. Then W started two wars and put them on the national credit card. Fighting a war on credit is so dumb, no-one before him ever tried. W doubled the national debt, just like Regan. Republicans are fiscally irresponsible; two Republican presidents together quadrupled the national debt. Then the bad effects of deregulation hit in the last year of W's presidency and crashed the economy. W bailed out the banks, and then he handed the whole mess over to Obama, except for Republicans in the Senate who block all atempts to rescue the country from the disasters Bush made. What's laughable now is that after spending like drunken sailors all thru Regan and Bush, Republicans have suddenly discovered the deficit; so while Republicans spent with wild abandon durring the good times, they now want Democrats to not spend a nickle in these bad times. Trickle-down economics destroyed our economy. Tax cuts for the rich made our deficit explode. It's time to try something else.
Yes Sir I have my Parties straight it is the GOP that pushed tax cuts for taking jobs overseas, The GOP doesn't give a rats behind about the American worker just the the o mighty dollar. Tell me the Rich have not gotten richer over the last ten years.
Greed Over Patriotism economic terrorists drove this country over the cliff, and continue to do everything in their power to prevent a recovery. All the Karl (turd blossom) Rove revisionist crap can't change that fact.
7mathew1520........I couldn't have plaigarised that from the CNN blogger any better myself. I have voted democratic for the past 15 years and believe in the principle of hardwork. I make a modest living, but I don't buy anything I can't afford. I noticed you conveniently left out the fact that president Obama has contributed more to the national debt than all of the afore mentioned presidents in your post. I am sick and tired of this country and its citizens becoming more and more entitled. It's always someone else fault, it's always blamed on lack of education, lack of opportunity, or lack of government subsidies, or poor access to whatever. It's really lack of ambition, lack of motivation, lack of common sense, and lack of hard work. Stop blaming the government, the ultimate scapegoat of both parties, and go to work.
That is frightening, I really don't no what else to say. There are very similar living conditions in a lot of countries. Makes my small apartment look like a luxury. Thank god I live in the USA, things are bad and getting worse, but I am not living in a closet yet.
mikey-452546
I do not have a party, therefore it would be difficult to say the least to spout "Party Rhetoric" (notice how rhetoric is correctly spelled- you economics genius!
Yes, Franklin, you spelled rhetoric correctly, but you didn't reread your post, so you forgot the close parens. Congratulations on not having a party; perhaps you think for yourself. I registered as an independent but found I could not vote in the primaries sincde they are for Rep or Dem only.
These pod home would be a big hit here too if the local governments would allow them to be built, especially if they could be bought rather than rented. Our local building codes would prohibit such small rental units, especially when they have shared bathrooms and showers. These would be great starter homes for people in their early twenties who are just starting out and would be better than paying rent to a landlord.
Bought or rented, it would give a good additional option. Now if you are unemployed in an American city it is either burn thru your savings very quickly paying high rent, become homeless, or go somewhere where rent is cheap but there are no jobs.
Atlanta, GA use to have building codes that PROHIBITED dual usage buildings. You know businesses were you also live in the same area. But that is common pricatice in many countries. In Atlanta they CHANGED the codes. Ha! Ha!
Wow JohnChingHK obviously your biased views have taken hold of your reality, they consume more just in population alone and not only that you dump recycled computer,industrial parts in your rivers and watersheds so bad they form islands,you drink it and then grow produce which you ship worldwide and contaminate everyone, at least over here we are not moronic as that. Look in your own backyard before you crap on the other side of the fence. Or has censorship allready done its damage on your limited knowledge of world events.
RON----------- So, what does all of that have to do, with the current economic situation, in the US?
Try to understand, RON, when you do anything, there is a cost.
If you pass the Cap and Trade bill, the price of electricity goes up about 30%, that drives the cost of manufacturing up roughly 11%.
Then, product costs more, then sales go down, then UE goes up.
What do you think Ron, is that clear enough.
shut up idiot
Obooboo would have all of us living in these well lit closets if he gets his way.....maybe China should get serious with the population control instead of housing people in caskets with lights......
I think the biggest threat to the U.S. is a blatent disregard for the truth on the part of some of its citizens.
I agree, Obooboo should tell Americans the truth for a change and admit he is a socialist creep who hates America, it's businessmen, and everyone who doesn't want to rely on the government for a handout......
Or Republicans should admit that they sold us all out, dismantled our manufacturing base, and saddled us with debt because they got good campaign contributions from rich people for doing so.
7matthew1520,
Excellent posts, I couldn't have said it any better.
Rats! Is there any topic that won't be used for political bickering? The corporations are beholden to their stockholders. Make a profit or else. The republicans and democratic ideologies have benefits and drawbacks. Most agree the tax code is a mess and industry strives to reduce the payments. 1800s and 1900s saw massive environmental problems and labor horrors so laws were inacted to protect these things. The price of business went up and industry hauled @$$. This is a reasonable response.
Back to housing, we are spoiled to the N'th degree. I wouldn't have it any other way! I wish, however, we could equally "spoil" the rest of the world.
I hope soon America will invent/solve 1) fusion energy; 2) mass transporters (startrek); 3) antigravity; or something like this. The British beat us to the computer, but imaging if we held the technology for some new widget that every country needed to purchase from the U.S.A.. We do this with military technology. I hate socialism but a nationalized "super widget" made in the United States of America would be great.
So get off the politics! We need to work together! We are the same, although we have different ideas.
Those pods look like a good breeding ground for the next big global epidemic; but then ever more virulent strains of the flu are one of China's growing exports.
The World flus come from Asia. Due to there co-location of farm animals and people, plus their use of 'night soil' to fertilize their food crops.
I'm sure crowding makes it worse. 21.5 square feet per person? That's like packing 100 people into a fairly typical American home. If one guy sneezes, they'll all catch cold.
Everyone, please!
Slow down. Craft your ideas more carefully. If you can't take time to spell or phrase your sentences, you're probably not thinking your messages through either. It's striking the anger we show towards ourselves. Give us solutions because just maybe our (more noble) politicians are reading this.
No, they're not reading this, but perhaps their administrative aides are and might pass on to them an occasional remark. There! I used all three in a single post and spelled them right. Please note.
You mean to tell me that "trickle down" economics don't trickle down as advertised. Tell that to the GOP.
The sad part is that some folks besides the rich people who ripped us off, really believed that more money in the hands of the wealthy would be beneficial to American workers. ROFL Just look at all those jobs that were produced....In China.. More GOP nonsense...The GOP hates working class Americans.
Yeah, and one of the theories behind 401Ks was that we would increase the capitol for American business to grow. We would all own a piece of American bussiness, just like rich people. Instead, we just put the money out there for Wall Street to steal; with George W. Bush's blessings.
And now the Republicans want to phase out Social Security and replace Medicare with "vouchers". Well I guess now that everything else has been stolen, they would go after our retirement.
The RICH (R)epublicans (In) (CH)arge will get their way and Social Security will be another taxation with no benefit. The RICH want to raise the ages again just like Reagan did to a minimun age of 70 instead of 62. Now it is 68 for my generation. I really hope that the RICH wins in every election. Might as well speed up the destruction of the middle class. When Americans can no longer provide the money necessary to fund the RICH lifestyle they can go over to CHINA and burn their economy also.
My other point is I have to laugh at the RICH who make 30k a year and praise the Republicans like they are their savior. A RICH person was driving a beat up truck and it had a bumper sticker on the back bumper it read. IF YOU DONT LIKE THE WAY THE ECONOMY IS GOING VOTE REPUBLICAN.......... Yep we need 8 more years of BUSH (B)usted (US) (H)ard type politics. Give Sara Palin a try at it I bet she could do it in 3 years. Give the RICH tax breaks, put SS into Wall St, spy on Russia because she can see it from her house, start another war or maybe two, make Rush Limpball her VP of course. Fox news channel is the only station on TV, and very trustworthy at that. Make abortion illegal. etc. etc..
Wow, that is so claustrophobic - I would feel bad making my dog live in a space that small! I mean, I know they don't spend all their time in there, but still, just looking at that picture makes me sad. I guess it is better than being homeless, but not by much! They could at least make it a little wider.
After driving near Harrah's Chester,Pa casino and last week in south Chicago, those pods looked pretty good
Steve Wynn is considering moving his corporate casino operations to China. I'm sure he'll benefit from employing "pod people".
So why is China's economy so hot? Perhaps it has something to do with the outsourcing of nearly 20 million American manufacturing jobs. Maybe those corporations that call themselves patriotic but are really just greedy, can send back some of those living tubes for our 1.5 million homeless children.
If they're portable...order some up for Pakistan flood victims.
How arrogant. They are all Human Beings no matter what country they live in. And they all deserve to live like humans, and not like dogs in a cage.
Why? We givin Pakistan enough to buy thier own!Besides half of them are alkida anyways!!
Utterly depressing.
The rich control wages, war, and taxes. One could argue they also control death in the process. Pay a fair wage, avoid war at all costs, and impose a fair tax on wages and salaries of the working and middle class and you will live a good long and happy life. The rich have proven they have no interest in working and middle class families attaining any of the latter. Regular Americans have no choice but to politically rise up against the rich and corporate elite and their GOP henchmen. However, joining the Tea Party Movement is not the solution.
You see the light, John. The first thing we have to do is get people off the hateful and divisive corporate propaganda machine. Talking to people who listen to Fox News and Limbaugh is like talking to someone living in a reverse universe, where workers get paid to much, unions are communist devices, corporations can do no wrong, privitization is the answer to all ills and there is no global warming.
How do we bridge the reality gap in order to organize and stage meaningful demonstrations to swing the pendulum back in our direction?
word
...strong union....
My BA = the highest tax bracket in the US. Please enjoy my tax dollars.
reeblite -- maybe back in the day a GED was considered acceptable for additional education or training, but not today. Even the Armed Forces isn't taking applicants with GEDs. A GED won't get you very far, union or not. GEDs, like it or not, fair or not, tell most potential employers, "Hey, I screwed up in high school or was just too lazy to stick it out, so I dropped out --" if I was a business owner, job recruiter or personnel officer, an applicant's employment app and resume' -- if one was even completed -- would be "round file" fodder. There are way too many folks out there without jobs that have high school diplomas, to bother with a GED.
Really. There a lot of High school graduates that are functionally illiterate, in fact a report did in 2003 found that 69% of all college BS graduates were functionally illiterate. And where did you get your information concerning the Military not accepting GED's? did you pull it out of your "round file". In the real world that file you mention is called "The Circular File", which is where your post belongs. Now who am I. GED with a 278 score, then college, same as my wife. We make $144,000 a year.
BOO-HOO Handgunner!That tax range must be $250.000 or more? $3000.00 more on your taxes really breaks your bank! I"m a disabled vet ,so thank you for paying your taxes!!ENJOY
... within 20 years, China's central government will have to change to a system of Democratic Socialism (ala, "Western" Europe) and most likely grant great autonomy to land-locked border provinces ... just too much to take care of with the government policies currently in effect. They probably will go through a couple of tough economic dips that will push them in that direction as 2B people will continue to have very different and polarizing thoughts and goals ... Nonetheless, I personally wish all of them well and may they have continued improvement in living and working conditions and the opportunity to grow spiritually as well!
International minimum wage would even things out.
A minimum size area to be considered habitable space wouldn't hurt either.