Hawklord wrote:
Fair point Kev, but don't you think that with the current boom in China and to a lesser extent India both countries will become increrasingly westernised with all that goes with it, such as consumerism, borrowing, families moving away, relationship breakdowns and that will all lead to heightened levels of stress & depression. I'd like to think that the balance between capitalism & communism would see an ideal society but I'm not to sure.
Right you'd better put me down as a pessimist.
Very possibly Mr Lord, but not in your or my lifetime. The main reason I noticed the difference is because, even though this country is painted as the evil economic demon of the world with it's cheap labour,it's defective product, it's red toothed communism and it's absolute determination not to prostitute itself to the west, the pace of life is very gentle, the socio economic situation is stable and the people are very fatalistic and realistic. They also don't have a camera down their throats all the time. Their work ethic is admirable and their expectations are realistic.
Let's face it, in the UK we're all working for a house that the Government will take 40% of when you die. Few people do better than that. Here, they are working for the family, not the status symbol.