Comments on: How Much Do Chinese Make? The Answer Depends on Which “Chinese” You’re Looking At

By: Jin Zhao

Jin Zhao — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 04:29:11 +0000

I guess that’s a pretty popular argument among some neo-liberal economists, but it still bothers me. I think it’s important for Chinese to ask what the goal of economic development is for us. It’s equally important to ask what paths we want to take to achieve that goal. I don’t think it’s okay to sacrifice some citizens (and a great number as well) for some other citizens to prosper. That shouldn’t be the way we build a nation.

By: Jin Zhao

Jin Zhao — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 04:15:56 +0000

Thanks, Chopstik. Sure, living in a culture is a great way to learn about a culture, and better, learning the language. Unfortunately not everyone will be able to do that. Anyways, I I just hope that this blog can be one source of information for people who are interested in China, even though what one blog can do it quite limited.

By: Chopstik

Chopstik — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 14:48:20 +0000

Sorry, I may have rambled a bit in my response. I was not attempting to state that China is good or bad, nor imply that you were intending to do so. Instead, I was agreeing with your idea that China is complex and people should learn as much as they can. I meant to point out that doing so is difficult because of certain pre-conceptions that people tend to create and maintain and rarely are challenged upon.

However, it is also important to note that learning of that complexity is difficult but that yours is one of a few sites that help to permit some insight into said idea. However, do you think that it is easier to gain insight into the complex nature of China and its citizens from being there or from not being there but only reading about it through the eyes and ears (and words) of others?

By: George Cody

George Cody — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 03:06:52 +0000

Maybe what I said is stupidly obvious. Sorry if that were the case.
Sincerely, George

By: George Cody

George Cody — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 02:15:45 +0000

Just to make a point. I am American, and I am very happy to see China emerge as a major power now, given that she has been a major power for thousands of years prior. So… welcome back to the club, now lets get down to business. How do we all deal with poverty and maximize human satisfaction? This is not an American, Chinese, European, African, …etc. question. It is simple a question regarding all human beingings (sp? sorry). Bottom line, in no society can a small group of people grab all the money and expect the remainders to be accepting of their fate. This is the source of revolution and should be quenched ASAP. The cultural revolution served primarily to redistribute wealth. I imagine that doing this again is not in any one’s best interest.

By: George Cody

George Cody — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 01:56:01 +0000

If I understand your question, I do not think that China can be judged on either its rich or poor. The question is what is the best way forward? I personally think that China’s adoption of a super rich is not necessarily a bad thing; it serves a beacon for others to migrate towards, but realistically, a strong middle class seems to me (I could be wrong) to be the best bet for China; she has a lot of people.

By: George Cody

George Cody — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 01:51:23 +0000

I just spent three weeks in China last summer, ~ 1/2 in Hunan 1/2 in Beijing. It was rather confusing. The wealth I saw was huge but localized. Very big houses and very expensive cars, but mostly I saw poor people. China, in my opinion, is in a very unique position of transition. As far as I could see, poverty still largely offsets prosperity, but optimism appeared really high. Kind of reminds me of why poor americans vote republican, as if supporting the rich will eventually make you rich. How long such dreams can continue is the issue. Maybe China can pull this off; if so please let America know also, because american poor stay poor.

By: Jin Zhao

Jin Zhao — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 22:08:45 +0000

I’m a bit confused what your point is. Judging whether a country or a people is “good” or “bad” is beside the point–pointless, actually. “China,” or any country in world, is not a singular unified entity. It’s never my intention in this blog to show whether “China” is good or bad. I hope I didn’t give you that impression.

By: Chopstik

Chopstik — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 21:48:36 +0000

I completely agree with your assertions. However, I fear that for most people (in this case, Americans – and how is that for stereotyping?!), it is easier to maintain the stereotypes that are being created and it will be difficult to break through the assumptions that result. China (and those who live in China) is neither good nor bad but, like the rest of the nations and peoples of the world, complex and difficult to pinpoint as just one thing.

Along that same line, perhaps Chinese will one day be able to recognise the same thing about America (and the rest of the West).

By: Jin Zhao

Jin Zhao — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 17:08:35 +0000

Thanks for reading! Well, I don’t think there’s a simple answer to almost any issue or problem about/in China, nor do I think China should be “judged” on one or two things or a couple groups of people. That’s why it’s important for people, in or outside China, to get as complex as possible a picture of the country and its people in order to understand this country whose presence increasingly affects our lives, directly or indirectly. Lately, there’re lots of discussions in the US media about whether China’s wealth will impact on the US economy and a lot of media attention has been paid to Apple’s suppliers’ labor issues, etc. I think we’ll see more and more such topics in the US and other Western media. I hope, while carefully avoiding to claim the ability to provide solutions per se., this post and my blog in general can help shed some light in understanding these issues. Your thoughts?