Meet the competition and your future: Chinese who live in caves.

[JDPriestly]

MIAOGOU VILLAGE, China — Like millions of other Chinese, Li Zhanjun lives in a dwelling that is fireproof, noise proof, warm in winter, cool in summer and the epitome of an eco-friendly design. Moreover, it's cheap.

Li lives in a cave.

About 20 million Chinese still reside in caves and dirt-covered dwellings on the Loess Plateau that straddles the middle and upper reaches of the Yellow River in China's northwest.

Some of the caves have been passed down for generations, with hard-packed earthen walls, electrical wiring, piped-in plumbing and other modern conveniences, including cable television.

. . . .

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/226/story/57952.html

Living like that, you don't need a real high wage. And that is the kind of worker that Americans are competing with.

Is this the kind of living standard that Senator Shelby and his buddies want Americans eventually to "enjoy?"

Free trade, guys. Ain't it wonderful?

[Faygo Kid]

1. That is, indeed, Sen. Shelby's dream.

He's not alone. W, Rush, all Southern GOP senators, hedge fund managers and Fox News executives - they all dream of us in rags living in caves and working on their behalf.

Pitchforks and torches first.

[BeFree]

15. Yep

They do want us to be their slaves. But some of us choose to do so and it makes it harder for the rest of us to stay free.

The trick is to keep your lifestyle from supporting their wishes. Hard to do, I know, but if enough of us take to doing so, their power diminishes.

[Nikki Stone1]

18. How should we do that?

Thanks.

[BeFree]

21. How?

First, tell me about your lifestyle. Your job, car and house. What you do for fun. Your civic involvement.

If you are self-employed, drive a minimal car minimal miles, and live in a small house that keeps the use precious resources to a minimum, find most of your fun in free outdoor venues and participate in local politics, then you probably are pretty much free from their slavery.

[Morning Dew]

2. The race to the bottom, now that's livin'...

rec.

[JVS]

3. I would love to live in a cave with cable TV!

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

19. A man cave!

[theoldman]

4. Sure beats living on the street or in sewers like in Las Vegas.

We are not competing with these people. They do not work in factories which are located in cities.

[Double T]

5. Living in a cave would be great; third world nation here 'we' come!!

Wonder if Betty and Wilma are available?

[hedgehog]

6. On the other hand.....

http://members.tripod.com/ellerman79/oldbrowser/index.html

[lynnertic]

11. when I was 8

When I was 8, I drew up "plans" for earth-sheltered houses and mailed them to Jimmy Carter. It was because he went on TV asking everyone to think of ways to conserve energy and I was a motivated 4th-grader. I don't know if my drawings were any good - they're long gone - but what I intended looked a lot like what you're linking to!

I wrote to Pres. Carter that the only problem I couldn't figure out was how to get a couch down the stairs. :)

His office sent me back a nice thank-you note and a glossy booklet about the office of the Presidency.

Afterward my parents had to tolerate a few months of my 'experiments' in recycling.

I really think Carter was the last great leader we had. No President since has asked the populace to think of new ways to live sustainably. The encouragement I got at age 8 - the package I got in the mail may have cost >$10 at the time - such a small investment - but it changed my life for the good.

I have great hopes for PE Obama. May he make at least as much of a difference for good as President Carter.

[BeFree]

22. Carter was the best

He was willing to stand up to the PTB- Powers That Be
And for that he became the enemy of all the crooked politicians
And then the people let him down. We deserted him. Obama's gonna need all of us, united and forceful if he is to lead us on the course that Carter first presented.

[lynnertic]

23. I haven't deserted him.

:)

[burythehatchet]

7. Here's another perspective: It points out how our beloved standard of living

is based on consumption of depleting resources. In most parts of the world people don't live under the assumption that everyone over the age of 21 should be able to own a house and a couple of cars. People live in extended families and social systems that do not rely on consumer goods. Whether we like it or not, we will get there as well, simply because we will have no choice. It is less stressful when you can prepare for it.

[BeFree]

14. Whether we like it or not..

...we will get there. We'd better learn to like it, 'cuz the American dream is over. It was great while it lasted, but it lasted too long for a lot of the resources it required. The resources are just about gone.

[readmoreoften]

8. Actually, they're nicer than a lot of low-end apartments in NYC. Check out the pictures.

I'd rather live in one of these caves, then in a dilapidated house with toxic mold or in a failing project.

[depakid]

10. No kidding

[NV Whino]

9. Well, beings that all the caves in my neck of the woods are wine caves,

this sounds like fun.

[progressoid]

12. There are plenty of reasons to get upset with trade problems with China but this ain't one of them.

This kind of cave dwelling is actually a good thing.

[lynnertic]

13. the Cable TV...

did they pay for it or steal it a la Jerry Seinfeld?

[FloridaJudy]

16. Sure would lower my air-conditioning costs.

I do believe there's an entire town in Australia built in an old opal mine. For really hot climates, such construction makes a lot of sense. If you believe all caves are primitive, Google Cappadocia, Turkey, where they've been burrowing for thousands of years. They've got some four star hotels in them.

[phusion]

17. Check out this school in a cave

[leftofthedial]

20. until the UAW agrees that all its members will move into caves

(or just holes in the ground if there aren't enough caves in Michigan), there will be no help for the Big 3.

If you don't like mudhuts, get retrained for another job. Where are your bootstraps, you cowardly worker who can't compete!?

[Mass]

24. Because obviously living in a trailer park is so much better!

http://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/archives/2008/12/child_poverty_in_america.php

So that you do not raise your hopes too much, here is a sobering statistics.

(BTW, there are people living in caves everywhere, including in the US. It is not a sign or more or less comfort by itself.)

[L0oniX]

25. I guess Geico won't have a problem with that.

:evilgrin: