The article says that "China now has more people in the top 10% of global wealth holders than any other country." That is fantastic news for China! Of course it can be argued that some people in the United States are worse off because of this development. I am convinced that the change is a net benefit. Those who oppose wealth diversity should agree, if they perceive a transfer of wealth from relatively rich to relatively poor. How else could the Chinese be getting richer, if not by making someone else poorer? The last time a flashy title so grossly distorted the important subject of poverty, we learned that this gentleman is the poorest man in the world:it can be argued that standards of living around the world are increasing overall
Must it be argued? Is it too juvenile and unserious to celebrate it?
No, but I would say that the issue is a complex one that includes philosophical matters that are not easily settled. That said, by the most widely-used measures of standard of living, I believe that they are increasing overall. However, consider this as a complexity: My wife recently met with an old friend in Dalian China at a bar. She had to take a picture of the menu after having a long discussion with the bartender. I will have to ask her for the specific numbers, but I recall that he made something like 2400 ($384) yuan every month working 7 days a week. Yet that was his base pay. Some of his wages were usually garnished as his boss often fined him for infractions such as allowing too many cigarette butts to accumulate in the ash tray. He pointed to a table and said: "Those three people have already drank $1000." That drink on the menu listed for 6880 CNY is $1100. He couldn't find better work. In fact, people would line up for his job. There is something uniquely dispiriting about being a servant of wealthy humans that seem fundamentally equivalent, and seeing no out. This is one anecdote, but the situation is shared for many Chinese. I believe that socioeconomic arguments must consider these measures when determining a standard of living. Humans are complex social creatures. We can have all the wealth in the world and live in torment. We need to be clear about what our goals are. No doubt, the standard of living has increased globally by many measures. What I wonder, is could it be increased in a more humane way? And, dare I ask: Could it be increased more quickly in a more humane way?Must it be argued? Is it too juvenile and unserious to celebrate it?
