Comments on: Starbucks, with Chinese Characteristics http://john.jubjubs.net/2007/01/29/starbucks-with-chinese-characteristics/ my semi-regular stream of consciousness Wed, 08 Oct 2008 08:16:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Myk Melez http://john.jubjubs.net/2007/01/29/starbucks-with-chinese-characteristics/#comment-210 Myk Melez Tue, 30 Jan 2007 10:01:39 +0000 http://john.jubjubs.net/?p=392#comment-210 The difference between income and the cost of luxury goods probably isn't quite so stark in Hungary as it is in China, but Hungarians make less than half of what Americans make (according to the UN Human Development Report 2006: <a href="http://hdr.undp.org/hdr2006/" rel="nofollow">http://hdr.undp.org/hdr2006/</a> ) yet pay the same or more for clothing, cars, CDs/DVDs, cell phones, etc. Nevertheless, Hungarians also enjoy national health care, much cheaper housing, and great public transportation, while the American middle class seems saddled these days with large costs for all these items (especially on the coasts). I have that same hesitation about a $3-4 coffee, but I bet that if I owned a home outright, got basic health care from the government, and didn't need a car to get to work, then I'd be much less hesitant. Perhaps there are some similarities to the situation in China. The difference between income and the cost of luxury goods probably isn’t quite so stark in Hungary as it is in China, but Hungarians make less than half of what Americans make (according to the UN Human Development Report 2006: http://hdr.undp.org/hdr2006/ ) yet pay the same or more for clothing, cars, CDs/DVDs, cell phones, etc.

Nevertheless, Hungarians also enjoy national health care, much cheaper housing, and great public transportation, while the American middle class seems saddled these days with large costs for all these items (especially on the coasts).

I have that same hesitation about a $3-4 coffee, but I bet that if I owned a home outright, got basic health care from the government, and didn’t need a car to get to work, then I’d be much less hesitant.

Perhaps there are some similarities to the situation in China.

]]> By: Myk Melez http://john.jubjubs.net/2007/01/29/starbucks-with-chinese-characteristics/#comment-5647 Myk Melez Tue, 30 Jan 2007 07:01:39 +0000 http://john.jubjubs.net/?p=392#comment-5647 The difference between income and the cost of luxury goods probably isn't quite so stark in Hungary as it is in China, but Hungarians make less than half of what Americans make (according to the UN Human Development Report 2006: <a href="http://hdr.undp.org/hdr2006/" rel="nofollow">http://hdr.undp.org/hdr2006/</a> ) yet pay the same or more for clothing, cars, CDs/DVDs, cell phones, etc.<br><br>Nevertheless, Hungarians also enjoy national health care, much cheaper housing, and great public transportation, while the American middle class seems saddled these days with large costs for all these items (especially on the coasts).<br><br>I have that same hesitation about a $3-4 coffee, but I bet that if I owned a home outright, got basic health care from the government, and didn't need a car to get to work, then I'd be much less hesitant.<br><br>Perhaps there are some similarities to the situation in China. The difference between income and the cost of luxury goods probably isn’t quite so stark in Hungary as it is in China, but Hungarians make less than half of what Americans make (according to the UN Human Development Report 2006: http://hdr.undp.org/hdr2006/ ) yet pay the same or more for clothing, cars, CDs/DVDs, cell phones, etc.

Nevertheless, Hungarians also enjoy national health care, much cheaper housing, and great public transportation, while the American middle class seems saddled these days with large costs for all these items (especially on the coasts).

I have that same hesitation about a $3-4 coffee, but I bet that if I owned a home outright, got basic health care from the government, and didn’t need a car to get to work, then I’d be much less hesitant.

Perhaps there are some similarities to the situation in China.

]]> By: Gen http://john.jubjubs.net/2007/01/29/starbucks-with-chinese-characteristics/#comment-209 Gen Tue, 30 Jan 2007 06:37:50 +0000 http://john.jubjubs.net/?p=392#comment-209 One of the "Chinese characteristics" of Starbucks in Shanghai was the pair of steel chains and latches that were affixed to the bottom of each table. I assumed that they were for women to hook their purses to so that they could not be stolen easily by a thief. Can't imagine what else it could be for. One of the “Chinese characteristics” of Starbucks in Shanghai was the pair of steel chains and latches that were affixed to the bottom of each table. I assumed that they were for women to hook their purses to so that they could not be stolen easily by a thief. Can’t imagine what else it could be for.

]]> By: Rafael http://john.jubjubs.net/2007/01/29/starbucks-with-chinese-characteristics/#comment-208 Rafael Tue, 30 Jan 2007 04:32:50 +0000 http://john.jubjubs.net/?p=392#comment-208 Sorry to keep commenting, I just don't get to see you everyday :) I had this conversation with friends of mine who just became parents. Middle class used to be (?) where one parent could work and the other could stay at home and watch the kids. That's no longer the case for middle-class, certainly in the Bay Area/Valley. If both parents *have to* work, that's not middle class. Keep going on China if you have more stuff to write. Very interesting. (and ugh, Starbucks). Sorry to keep commenting, I just don’t get to see you everyday :)
I had this conversation with friends of mine who just became parents. Middle class used to be (?) where one parent could work and the other could stay at home and watch the kids. That’s no longer the case for middle-class, certainly in the Bay Area/Valley. If both parents *have to* work, that’s not middle class.

Keep going on China if you have more stuff to write. Very interesting. (and ugh, Starbucks).

]]> By: Gen http://john.jubjubs.net/2007/01/29/starbucks-with-chinese-characteristics/#comment-5646 Gen Tue, 30 Jan 2007 03:37:50 +0000 http://john.jubjubs.net/?p=392#comment-5646 One of the "Chinese characteristics" of Starbucks in Shanghai was the pair of steel chains and latches that were affixed to the bottom of each table. I assumed that they were for women to hook their purses to so that they could not be stolen easily by a thief. Can't imagine what else it could be for. One of the “Chinese characteristics” of Starbucks in Shanghai was the pair of steel chains and latches that were affixed to the bottom of each table. I assumed that they were for women to hook their purses to so that they could not be stolen easily by a thief. Can’t imagine what else it could be for.

]]> By: Rafael http://john.jubjubs.net/2007/01/29/starbucks-with-chinese-characteristics/#comment-5645 Rafael Tue, 30 Jan 2007 01:32:50 +0000 http://john.jubjubs.net/?p=392#comment-5645 Sorry to keep commenting, I just don't get to see you everyday :)<br><br>I had this conversation with friends of mine who just became parents. Middle class used to be (?) where one parent could work and the other could stay at home and watch the kids. That's no longer the case for middle-class, certainly in the Bay Area/Valley. If both parents *have to* work, that's not middle class. <br><br>Keep going on China if you have more stuff to write. Very interesting. (and ugh, Starbucks). Sorry to keep commenting, I just don’t get to see you everyday :)

I had this conversation with friends of mine who just became parents. Middle class used to be (?) where one parent could work and the other could stay at home and watch the kids. That’s no longer the case for middle-class, certainly in the Bay Area/Valley. If both parents *have to* work, that’s not middle class.

Keep going on China if you have more stuff to write. Very interesting. (and ugh, Starbucks).

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