Chinese Struggling Less Than Americans.

Since the financial crisis began in 2008, more Americans have struggled to buy the food and shelter they and their families need.

WASHINGTON, D.C.-- Gallup surveys in China and the U.S. reveal Chinese are struggling less than Americans to put food on their tables. Six percent of Chinese in 2011 say there have been times in the past 12 months when they did not have enough money to buy food that they or their family needed, down significantly from 16% in 2008. Over the same period, the percentage of Americans saying they did not have money for food in the previous 12 months more than doubled from 9% in 2008 to 19% in 2011.

Chinese are also struggling less to afford adequate shelter. Sixteen percent of Chinese say in 2011 there have been times in the past 12 months when they did not have enough money to provide adequate shelter or housing for themselves and their families. This marks considerable progress since 2008, when 21% of Chinese had trouble providing shelter.

Fewer Americans are struggling with housing costs than Chinese, but the number of Americans who are struggling is increasing. Eleven percent of Americans say there have been times in the past 12 months when they could not afford adequate housing, up from 5% in 2008.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/150068/Chinese-Struggling-Less-Americans-Afford-Basics.aspx

I'd rather get American wages than Chinese wages....LJS9502_basic

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"]I'd rather get American wages than Chinese wages....loco145

[QUOTE="loco145"][QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"]I'd rather get American wages than Chinese wages....LJS9502_basic

Sure, if you just wanna eat plain rice all day.

This is a comparison of perception only, not facts. The two just do not compare. China's per capita GDP is under $8k, whereas the US is almost $50k.

Just look at this little tidbit to explain their "2.8%" living below the poverty line (as defined by China) From the CIA World Factbook, easily confirmed by other sources as well for those who would like to cry conspiracy.

"21.5 million rural population live below the official "absolute poverty" line (approximately $90 per year); an additional 35.5 million rural population live above that level but below the official "low income" line (approximately $125 per year) (2007)"

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"][QUOTE="loco145"] If you can get a job.loco145

Yea, instead of setting our AC's on 69 we had to settle for 75.....

Seriously though, while many in the US are suffering, it is compared to what they are used to. Comparing our suffering to that of other countries is a slap in the face. Just be content with knowing you are hurting more than last year, but comparing that pain to someone who doesn't have indoor plumbing and electricity is silly.

[QUOTE="loco145"][QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"]But the quality of life still tops the quality for the poor in China.LJS9502_basic

[QUOTE="loco145"][QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"]No it's not. I don't think you know how the poor in China live. Americans spend more on luxury items and that can affect cash on hand.LJS9502_basic

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"]I'd rather get American wages than Chinese wages....loco145

Ignoring the facts I posted does not make your arguments any more valid. There is no story here, it is just doom and gloom journalism to convince Americans we are living in epic times.

Ignoring the facts I posted does not make your arguments any more valid. There is no story here, it is just doom and gloom journalism to convince Americans we are living in epic times.

vfibsux

Communism wins.

Sure, if you just wanna eat plain rice all day.

TheHighWind

Rice is better then nothing. I suspect the difference is they are much less picky then we are.

[QUOTE="vfibsux"]

Ignoring the facts I posted does not make your arguments any more valid. There is no story here, it is just doom and gloom journalism to convince Americans we are living in epic times.

loco145

[QUOTE="TheHighWind"]

Sure, if you just wanna eat plain rice all day.

Whiteblade999

Rice is better then nothing. I suspect the difference is they are much less picky then we are.

Communism wins.

Ilovegames1992

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"]I'd rather get American wages than Chinese wages....loco145

Omg we are at a 9% unemployment rate. WE ARE ALL GOING TO STARVE!!!!!

Communism wins.

Ilovegames1992

Do you have any idea the living conditions of the average worker in China? Obviously not because you wouldn't make such stupid generalizations.

This sort of highly subjective polling mechanism leaves me less than confident in the poll.

Afaik, Chinese tend to put some money aside in times of need.

Anyone is shocked is stuck under a rock...

Come on they have about the same land size. BUT they have over 900 million more people... So there all cramped in appartments size ect, There leaders devaule their money, they are pretty much a dictetorship by one group of people. (U.s has two but all they know how to do is say yes to their selfs and no to the other. This is why we really need 3 groups)

i just can't how they are struggleing less then u.s... Don't get me wrong i don't feel sorry for them...

[QUOTE="Ilovegames1992"]

Communism wins.

Wasdie

Do you have any idea the living conditions of the average worker in China? Obviously not because you wouldn't make such stupid generalizations.

Sorry for a humourous comment. I feel so disappointed in myself. ;(

[QUOTE="loco145"][QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"]I'd rather get American wages than Chinese wages....Wasdie

Omg we are at a 9% unemployment rate. WE ARE ALL GOING TO STARVE!!!!!

China is still a developing nation last I read so you can't really compare them to America.

.That's not factoring in the people who gave up looking for jobs or took jobs that they're overqualified for because they couldn't find anything good. The real unemployment rate has been pegged between 15-20%. It's even worse if you're under 30 since the unemployment for that demographic is around 40%, not even counting the factors I mentioned above. Seriously, look around you. Does it really seem like only 9% of the country is having employment troubles? We wouldn't be having protests in 500 cities and ever increasing discontent if unemployment were at levels resembling anything even remotely normal.DevilMightCry

Anecdotal evidence at its best. Most of the people I see protesting would not have a job in any decade. I think the whole being high thing and having sex in public gets in the way.......

Oh and before you try it....I was unemployed when my business went under. I'm not now.

It wasn't too long ago that about 85 percent of Chinese were living on less than $1 a day

It wasn't too long ago that about 85 percent of Chinese were living on less than $1 a day

Joshywaa

My buddy hasn't had hot water since April. He can't afford to turn his gas on. With winter coming he don't know if he'll have heat (we're in Michigan). He's finding it hard to support 3 peopleworking at Walmart. I told him get use to it it's the American way.

Well china is sort of hacking their economy

manipulating there currency rates

inflating realistate(building homes people can't afford, to create jobs)

ect ect

It wasn't too long ago that about 85 percent of Chinese were living on less than $1 a day

Joshywaa

Anything can happen on a country that was just a giant North Korea around 20 years ago.

American standards > Chinese standards.

Funny how you can tell which posts were in response to the title or op.

Funny how you can tell which posts were in response to the title or op.

vfibsux

Having in lived in China for most of my life (living in Nanjing now), I feel pretty confident when I say that most Chinese people are at least as worried about food/housing as Americans. They are worried - among other things - about rampant housing costs and the ever increasing cost of food staples. If the government was intervening in a pretty serious way in both cases the situation would be even worse. A square meter of housing around here where I live costs about the same as an average Chinese's annual salary. That, for those of you who are interested, is the equivalent to a square meter in the States costing around 40k. And we're not talking Manhattan here either. Much rather be a struggling American than a struggling Chinese. No contest.