One theory I've heard about the accelerating of the worsening conditions of western proletariat is that the USSR used to provide a bulwark against things getting too bad. People would point at the USSR and the illusion that capitalism was better for individual prosperity would collapse in comparison. Then, with the USSR gone things have been deteriorating for the past ~30 years.
If that is true, even somewhat, why haven't we seen a similar effect from China's example? Is the theory simply wrong? Maybe western capitalism is just unable to even offer scraps from the table at this point. Maybe people are unaware of how things are in China? Could we dare to expect that China's example will force a lifting of the boot from our necks?
I think there’s still this idea that China is poor to most people. Tell them that their quality of life is equal to Portugal and Westerners still shrug that off… because in their minds it’s still bicycles and dirt roads.
China needs to export Chinese soap operas or something.
Is there a source for comparing China's quality of life to that of Portugal? I would like to give that a read.
Cause there is a reason people like myself are leaving Portugal and it isn't because of good quality of life.