Young, educated and jobless in China

[Liberal_in_LA]

Young, educated and jobless in China
With millions graduating from college each year and few jobs awaiting them, the country's central
planners worry that a mass social experiment that created a class of professionals is backfiring.

By David Pierson

February 18, 2010 | 5:56 p.m.

Reporting from Beijing - Six months after graduating from university, Guan Jian was unemployed and living in an 8-by-8-foot rented room on the fringes of this sprawling capital.

His quarters were so hastily built that the landlord didn't bother to include a bathroom. When duty calls, Guan must trudge to the neighborhood toilet. Yet at $65 a month, it's all he can afford. Money is so tight at times that he has learned to suppress his hunger with a single steamed bun a day.

This wasn't how things were supposed to be for Guan, a 24-year-old broadcast journalism graduate who sports an easy smile and has a love affair with foreign film. A native of China's northeastern Rust Belt and the first in his family to earn a college degree, Guan thought opportunities would come more easily.

Instead, he is one of an estimated 3 million jobless or underemployed college graduates in China, products of a mass social experiment by central planners to churn out more professionals for China's economic development. Nicknamed the Ant Tribe, after the title of a recent book documenting their struggles, they now constitute a vast army of educated young people whose growing restlessness worries the Chinese government.

"They represent the pain and confusion of a whole generation," wrote author Lian Si, a sociologist who spent two years living with and researching the graduates. "When all their anger and grievances reach a critical point, a special event could trigger a large-scale mass movement."

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-china-grads19-2010feb19,0,4022980.story

[Canuckistanian]

1. Yep.

China's overdue for a major insurrection and coup. And guys like Guan are going to be leading it.

[virgogal]

2. Middle aged,educated,and jobless in the USA. Worse IMHO.

[Canuckistanian]

4. You're not living under a repressive government

Nor are you living in an toiletless 8X8 room surviving on a single bun everyday.

I think he has more reason to complain.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

3. it is a global problem

[OhioChick]

5. Welcome to Globalization. n/t

[HeresyLives]

10. In the early stages of industrialization

huge masses of people lost jobs...but as it turned out industrialization was the greatest creator of new jobs the world has ever seen.

Same with globalization.

[DeSwiss]

69. An over-simplification. It sounds, pretty but it's not correct. n/t

[anonymous171]

6. China always had the worst central planning of any communist state

[HeresyLives]

8. 8.7% growth is good, not bad.

And China hasn't been communist in 20 years.

[Elwood P Dowd]

14. Let's all move to that Communist paradise where the per capita GDP is $6,000

and where they can throw you in jail for moving without the government's permission. Oh, and that delicious pollution they pump into the air and water makes for beautiful sunsets and swimming in the rivers.

[HeresyLives]

15. Go be mad at someone else.

And learn something about China along the way.

[Elwood P Dowd]

16. The truth hurts doesn't it?

:nopity:

[HeresyLives]

17. It might hurt you if you knew any of it.

But so far all I've heard from you is empty bluster.

[OhioChick]

18. Your one-liners are meaningless jibberish.

Enough said.

[Elwood P Dowd]

21. Ain't that the truth.

:crazy:

[OhioChick]

30. Yeah, that one's a few fries short of a happy meal. n/t

[HeresyLives]

31. MacDonalds is in China.

India too.

They caught on long ago.

[OhioChick]

35. McDonald's

http://www.mcdonalds.com/

Guess proper spelling didn't "catch on" with you.

[HeresyLives]

39. I don't eat them, so I don't care how it's spelled.

Why, will this make you sit up nights worrying about it?

[OhioChick]

45. How does eating them have anything to do with correct spelling?

I don't eat assholes, but I can sure spot them.

[HeresyLives]

49. Ahhh now we're off on the spelling 'concern'.

:boring:

[Elwood P Dowd]

38. I think you've had one too many "Happy Meals".

:puke:

[HeresyLives]

40. It's not me playing 'everybody be happy'

[Elwood P Dowd]

48. I think you need to start China Underground. Discuss all the good and bad points about

the Chinese government. See how long it would last over there. Better yet, see how long you last before you're thrown under the gulag.

[HeresyLives]

50. I think you need to pay attention to the 'Barbarians,'

cuz the gate is pretty well crushed.

[Elwood P Dowd]

57. I think you need to pay attention to facts.

When you are confronted with facts, you retreat to talking points and innuendo. An excellent example would be your post that the USA is no longer an economic power, when the FACTS show it to produces 25% of the world's GDP. No other country is even close. Obviously, you hope and pray that will change. Why are you even here if you so desperately want our country to fail? Why do the mods even allow you to continue this charade?

[HeresyLives]

59. I listen to facts, not myths.

The US is no longer a super power...militarily or economically...and hasn't been in years.

I'd like you to succeed, not fail....and it's an uphill fight against some of the brick walls on here.

[Elwood P Dowd]

70. You are totally insane.

We produce 25% of the world's GDP with 4% of the population. No one else is even close, but we are not an economic superpower? The only reason we are not an even bigger economic superpower is because of our insane trade, outsourcing, tax, and regulatory policies.

I wish we didn't spend so much on our military, but for someone to say we are not a military superpower is ludicrous. Only a fool would make a statement like that. We have far more military firepower than we need, and the nearest competitors are decades behind us.

[Elwood P Dowd]

19. Bluster? My facts and figures vs your talking points is bluster? Do you work for Fox News

or the Chinese government?

[HeresyLives]

20. If you two choose to remain ignorant,

it's your problem not mine.

None of it affects me, but ignorance affects your country greatly.

[Elwood P Dowd]

22. Is there not a DU like forum in China? Oh sorry, I forgot. The internet is censored

by the Communist dictators in China.

[OhioChick]

23. ......

:rofl:

[HeresyLives]

25. S'funny really...and sad.

Romans used to say all the same things.

'Hey, nobody can touch us, we're Romans ya know!'

'Listen to those barbarians at the gate...they speak gibberish. AHAHAHAHAHA!'

Meanwhile people like you are tearing the gates down from the inside, because you refuse to change.

History really does repeat itself, the first time as tragedy, the second time as farce.

[OhioChick]

26. Get over yourself. n/t

[HeresyLives]

27. Darwin:

"It's not the strongest of the species which survive, nor the most intelligent, but the ones most responsive to change"

Charles Darwin

[Elwood P Dowd]

28. So that's the only answer you have for Communist censorship?

Pitiful and .... :crazy:

[HeresyLives]

29. There is of course, none in America.

:rofl:

[Elwood P Dowd]

32. This forum is proof that that the internet is a helluva' lot more open and free

than what you have in Communist China.

[HeresyLives]

33. Sorry, I'm not into red herrings or diversions.

Nor will they help America out of the mess it's in

[Elwood P Dowd]

44. Freedom is a red herring or diversion?

Can't have that can we.

[HeresyLives]

47. Sorry, your sudden concern about their net access is hilarious.

Not to mention beside the point.

<*(((---<

[proudohioan]

64. What exactly are you doing here? What is your purpose?

Why DU? Why not Industrialist Underground? Or Globalization Underground?

Aren't there other forums out there that would be a little more appropriate for your personal "world views"?

Or do you just like to argue?

[HeresyLives]

66. Discussing ideas, same as you.

Arguing, debating, tossing concepts around, learning from each other...all that.

Actually this is the perfect forum. Occasionally some fresh air is helpful

[proudohioan]

68. Are you being paid by a corporation to infiltrate DU?

There's something here that just doesn't sound right. I can't put my finger on it, but something strikes me as being off.....

[HughBeaumont]

74. Representing the Canadian Thomas Friedman wing?

Also, she likes getting the last word.

The whole problem with her idiotic screed is the constant finger wagging revolving around "US" having to change. Uh, WE didn't bring ANY of this on ourselves. Laissez-fail was dumped on us and bolted in place by Reaganite Corporate America. No matter WHO WE put in office, they either have to be an aider/abettor of this system or ELSE. There isn't a damned thing WE can do that doesn't involve bloodshed or an insane amount of luck.

[proudohioan]

77. I'm glad you can assign a human trait to that one...

such as a name and gender. I can't get past the non-human, brainwashed robotic rhetoric, therefore I have been referring to it as "The Invader" or simply "Creature"..... You're a better man than me, Hugh!

As to the rest, I heartily agree with you!

[HughBeaumont]

34. Watch "Manufactured Landscapes" and get back to me.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manufactured_Landscapes

A sordid look at how much corporations are "helping" China. These people have a mundane, micro-managed and over-monitored existence, absolutely no hope, are dying a slow death, live in squalor, and it's all because a handful of rich people simply aren't rich enough and do this only because slavery is illegal and they can't get away with not paying their workers.

Your talking points are so hollow and contrived, it's simply laughable. Globalization is one of the worst ruses pulled on the middle/working/poor classes. Utterly amazing that people who call themselves "Democrats" fall for this Republicanomic garbage.

[HeresyLives]

37. Same stuff can be seen in America.

And China and India have a bigger middle class than you have people. Millionaires and billionaires too.

Globalization is a fact, and was always inevitable. Get used to it and stop playing King Canute.

[HughBeaumont]

53. Yes, and people like you cheerlead the race to the bottom at your own peril.

Absolutely amazing that there are people that still believe NAFTA did the American middle class a favor. It destroyed the wages, labor protections, jobs (a net loss of nearly 1 million measured) and environments of all nations involved and made them much more resource-dependent (a move that is killing the US).

You'd better pray a living wage gets revisited in the US and a reversal of neo-con laissez fail happens FAST. Because, LIKE IT OR NOT, your economy is inordinately tied to ours, as is the rest of the world's.

[HeresyLives]

55. I'm trying to get you to race to the top

And as to NAFTA, the US exports more to Canada than it does to all the countries of the EU combined.

Cancel that at your peril.

And no, other countries have long been aware of Americas suicidal impulses, and made other plans.

[Elwood P Dowd]

71. We were exporting tons of products to Canada long before NAFTA.

We had trade surpluses with Canada and Mexico before NAFTA. Now we have massive trade deficits with both countries. NAFTA cost us over 2 million jobs when you factor in the spin off and support jobs lost. NAFTA has been a disaster.

[dionysus]

36. ding

[HeresyLives]

42. Dong

Cost of living is also lower there.

[dionysus]

46. yeah, lol, in your 8x8 room. weeeeee

:eyes:

[HeresyLives]

52. yes, American students live in mansions.

[dionysus]

76. compared to an 8x8 room with no shitter in it.. yes they do...

:eyes:

[anonymous171]

41. Everything is still state planned (poorly, btw.) nt

[HeresyLives]

43. Funny, that's what the Repubs say about healthcare

[anonymous171]

54. State planning is generally bad

Especially when that state is not a democracy.

[HeresyLives]

56. Well then, so much for the public option.

[anonymous171]

58. The word "option," you need to look it up. nt

[HeresyLives]

60. dupe.

[anonymous171]

62. Oh god dammit. I sincerely hope you live in China.

I really do.

[HeresyLives]

63. No, I live in Canada.

I visit many other places in the world tho.

[anonymous171]

67. How Typical. Just another Western "leftist" apologist for a repressive slightly leftist regime

:eyes:

[HeresyLives]

61. It's your phrase, not mine

My phrase is 'universal health care'

[izquierdista]

24. Want to reconsider that?

Chernobyl? The Aral Sea? Chelyabinsk-65? But I will admit that the Chinese are still perpetuating their central planning mistakes on their unfortunate citizens, unlike the Soviets.

[anonymous171]

51. The events at Chernobyl and Chelyabinsk-65 were both accidents.

The Aral Sea is a pretty damning indictment though. Although it has nothing on the millions Mao starved with his moronic and fruitless "Great Leap Forward."

[HeresyLives]

7. Yes, it happens everywhere these days.

Economists call it 'dislocation'....and there isn't going to be any revolution.

[SoCalDem]

9. at least China has some money..and no congress to mess plans up

If the central government decides to do something, it gets done..

[HeresyLives]

11. Yes, there is that.

It's a very efficient form of govt...just not one most people would want to live under.

But the Chinese have never known any other kind, so they don't see a problem with it.

[upi402]

13. Sad that we've come to that here

To look at Authoritarian Communist China and recognize that it functions, at least. Sad.

[AsahinaKimi]

12. I feel for many of the Chinese Students

There was a Chat room I used to go to, and talked to many of them. All of them seemed fairly bright, and were looking forward to a great future. It was funny though, many of them invited me to come visit China. Yet, when I would ask if they would like to visit the USA, many of them said they felt uncomfortable leaving their country, even for a vacation. They have been taught to believe they are living in paradise, on earth, so much so, that they have no desires to leave their country and visit other places.

They were amazed that I had been to many countries, and asked a lot of questions, but seemed to have no real desire to leave China. I explained to them how there are many Chinese living all over the world, and in fact many in my city, but the idea of picking up roots and even working in a job, such as an embassy didn't really appeal to them. One wanted badly to be an attorney, and when I asked what kind of attorney, was a bit confused. I told them their were many kinds of lawyers, and they said they would have to explore their options.

[HeresyLives]

65. I am not the enemy here, folks.

The 'enemy' is inertia. The idea that you can rest on your laurels forever, and the world will never change.

THAT is what you have to fight...and villifying either me or China... or India...or the very idea of 'change'...won't make a toss of difference.

[Throd]

72. Enjoy your civil war. It's coming.

[Elwood P Dowd]

73. This message brought to you by....

HeresyLives of The Heritage Foundation and the American Enterprise Institute.

[HughBeaumont]

75. Unfortunately, there are far too many "Free Traitor" bootshiners on this site for my liking.

Exhibit A: this thread. Some pretty heated stuff. I put the loathsome condescending piece of garbage in that one on ignore. This is a Democratic site. Cheerleading "race to the bottom" economics is cheerleading poverty and stagnation, hardly the sort of behavior we should be encouraging.

Like I said before, history does not favor the worker on this issue. It's so painfully evident that it's beyond argument. Look at the stagnant wages. Look at the consumer debt, the trade deficit, the wealth inequality, the shoddy product quality, the consumer-over-producer economic shift, the shift in risk to the worker, the working class wages of the NAFTA participants, etc. Entire towns are practically out of business. When a plant closes, it causes a domino effect for the secondary businesses that depended on those workers spending money.

[OhioChick]

78. I couldn't agree with you more. It's sickening. n/t