Reason Number 11 - Crossing the Line for a Penny

‘Fault Lines On The Face Of China: 50 Reasons Why China May Never Be Great’ - Excerpt 21
"China has the world’s fastest-growing economy, but many millions in China’s countryside have been left behind, forming the ranks of the 1st Army of Instability.

In 1978, before China reformed its economic policies, the country had 250 million people who lacked adequate food and clothing. By the end of 2005, that number had dropped to 23.6 million. By 2007 that figure had dropped a little further, to 21.48 million. In addition to these people, defined as living in ‘absolute poverty’ there were another 35.5 million in the ‘low-income’ category, said Zhang Baowen, vice-minister of agriculture.

It is easy to be impressed with the drop of poverty accomplished no matter which accounting method is used. However, even under the best circumstances, there are still 23 million living in absolute poverty. That’s equal to two-thirds of the population of Canada or one-third of the population of the UK. It’s more than the entire population of Australia – or the State of Florida. That’s twenty-three million citizens who cannot even afford an extra change of clothes or nutritious daily food. Or afford school fees for their children. Or a simple visit to a doctor."

‘Fault Lines On The Face Of China: 50 Reasons Why China May Never Be Great’ - Excerpt 22
"Just how serious is China about poverty reduction? In 2005, the central government assigned about US$1.7 billion for poverty reduction. In the same year, it said it spent more than US$30 billion on its armed forces. The Rand Corporation, a US-based nonprofit think-tank, estimated the true figure was closer to US$70 billion per year.

In China’s western regions, home to about 400 million people, 20% of the population cannot afford hospital fees and more than a third cannot afford high school fees. Sending a child to college took 74% of an average family’s entire income. Again –74%! Illiteracy, another side-effect of poverty, was at 28%.

These millions of ‘low income’ individuals exist in something like a state of limbo. Hovering just above absolute poverty, they face a daily struggle to keep their sanity and their bodies functioning for the next day of work.

We have seen these members of the 1st Army clustered around the single television in their village, which is often perched on the shelf of a store owner’s establishment. They watch in disbelief at the flickering pictures from Shanghai or Beijing, and they see the glittering towers of modernity. Programs, commercials and reports show cars, restaurants and the happy and content life of the upwardly mobile new middle classes.

They do not see their own life. They see the good life.

One day, when they finally realize this good life is not on another planet, but is in their own country, and that the pictures on the screen represent now, not some promised future, they will begin to march, the first of the armies that spell a colossal threat to China."