[violetgorman]

They are dependent on us, OSB, but IMO their dependence on us is just not the same type of dependence. And it is somewhat difficult to explain what I mean. One major way we differ is in our standard of living. When I went I was with a group of nurses. And as such, we live very differently that the nurses in China. We all have our own homes and individual lives. In China, the nurses live in the hospital. They have their own 'quarters' 6 to a room, bunk beds and very few personal belongings. We are so invested in our 'lifestyles' here that to lose that would be in many cases insurmountable. There, such loss would change very little in the lives of the individual. Globally speaking, yes, they ARE dependent on us. Individually, I'm not sure they really are. And one but has to drive past miles and miles of the communist apartments all of which have the thermoses that holds their boiled water sitting in the windows.

Yes and no. I am not sure which city or when you went, but I have seen major changes in most of the cities. Yes, there are, what we would call slums, and then there are the high rise apartments. What is interesting is the rising middle class in China. As such, things are improving. The living conditions we see today in China can be described what the living conditions in the early 20th century where running water was not available everywhere.

The main problem with the housing, at least from my perspective, is there is no resale value. Once you buy the apartment, you pretty much stay there for life. Also, China tends to build up and not out as does the US, most notaly in the SE, South, SW, and West parts of the country. It is different and as such you cannot make a comparison.