I’ve always tempered my expectations by reminding myself “they have their own issues”, and that they are similar to America in living standards (in the present. I obviously expect them to surpass in the near future).
But is it wrong to think China is just straight up superior as a country in nearly every facet to America? The infrastructure, the home ownership, poverty alleviation, health care access.
Of course part of this is my privilege as I wouldn’t be affected by any social rights shortcomings were I to move to China (I’m not LGBTQ). And those sort of attitudes take longer to resolve through culture than economic ones (as the economic progress informs social progress). But I also understand that China is making real steps towards progress there.
Usually to engage liberals I try to use some form of equivalence of China to the US (ex they have problems like us such as xyz). And imo this is a great way of having a real conversation. But is it factually correct anymore? If not, it seems pretty soon then that China will blow the doors open and it will be simply better for living.
Yeah that’s a great point. Always felt that notion was flimsy too.