[quote]En Sabah Nur wrote:
Hell, from what I’ve been hearing, I kind of don’t want to VISIT either…[/quote]
I’m sure China is awesome.
I still have absolutely no intention to ever visit China. Ever.
Just the air pollution alone scares me.[/quote]
I forget which city, but a team of execs/engineers went over to pitch the company I was working for to a major manufacturer in China. One day it starts raining and everybody outside runs for cover into the buildings. One guy wants to head outside for a smoke thinking it’s just rain, right?
Goes out, smokes, comes back in. Later that night the acidity of the rain caused the skin on his head to start peeling. Afterwards they warned everybody about that and pointed out among other things- there were no birds what so ever in the entire region.
[quote]MattyG35 wrote:
I remember reading something that the fundamental basis of a strong vs weak economy was ultimately dependent on population demographics. The ratio of say 20-65 year olds present in the work force relative to the number of dependents, eg 0-20 year olds and older than 65 is what enables an economy to be strong or weak (I just used what I feel is generally accepted work-force ages, it’s just to illustrate a point).
Right now China’s economy is strong because they have a large work force, but when that work force is retired and those people have only had one child, there will be serious consequences and repercussions.
I’m sure it’s more complex than this, but I do feel this holds true to some extent, and is a contributing factor to the “baby boomers” presently retiring.[/quote]
This makes a lot of sense. Korea is worried sick about its aging workforce and the fact that there is a very low birth-rate. Eventually there won’t be enough young people, and that will place a serious dent on the nation’s ability to do anything.
China can only face the same thing sooner or later with the 1-child policy coming to bite them in the ass.[/quote]
They will discontinue enforcement of their immigration laws/policies. There will have to be someone to do the jobs all those lazy spoiled Chinese won’t be willing to do.
[quote]SkyzykS wrote:
I forget which city, but a team of execs/engineers went over to pitch the company I was working for to a major manufacturer in China. One day it starts raining and everybody outside runs for cover into the buildings. One guy wants to head outside for a smoke thinking it’s just rain, right?
Goes out, smokes, comes back in. Later that night the acidity of the rain caused the skin on his head to start peeling. Afterwards they warned everybody about that and pointed out among other things- there were no birds what so ever in the entire region.
[/quote]
Yes. Americans think air pollution is bad in L.A? Go to Seoul.
My example is less frightening, but notable nonetheless imo.
My uncle had chronic breathing problems throughout most of his adult life. He visited the U.S. with my cousin. Went to all the big cities and stuff. His breathing problems disappeared entirely during the duration of his stay.
A minor asthma that I had developed into full-blown coughing fits when I stayed for about two months in Korea. It persisted for a couple of months when I returned to the U.S.
Are these representative or mean anything outside of simple anecdote? Nope.
Still, fuck people saying we should mimic China or that we need industry back.
Go live in Seoul for a couple of months. See what it’s like to have Chinese pollution blow in with the yearly summer wind.