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Q: Does inequality in China motivate the poor?
Is the massive wealth gap in China a force of positive motivation for poor people to strive for success or does it cause jealousy and depression because they know they will never achieve what the rich have (for many reasons)?
Do most people in China idolize the rich or despise them?
I see the US in the same boat now.
It seems the attitude of those living in poverty toward the wealthy changes greatly depending on how closely they live to one another. When large communities live in poverty without the sight of riches on their doorstep they become more accepting of their situation to some extent, whereas a person living in squalor who can practically see his neighbours drinking cocktails by their swimming pool is naturally far more likely to become resentful and angry.
Many people (being human nature) will say that those who are better off than them have somehow gotten the gain through underhanded means, luck, or by a gift. Very few want to admit that the other fellow had greater discipline, education, or work ethic. It just depends on priority.
Wealth envy is the result, which often stems from a deeper problem. I know a lot of people who would be considered "rich," and everyone of them have busted their buns getting where they are today, but that was because wealth was their goal. In some circumstances, other things were sacrificed (sadly, family is included). That doesn't mean that there aren't some who did use the above methods to acquire wealth, I just don't think it is the majority. With that in mind, what is rich to me may not be rich to someone else.
I don't think the Chinese are any different in this regard. Those who don't have, sometimes, are jealous of those who do. Not always, but I think that as "the rich" are touted more and more as a sign of a Successful China, then those who are not rich will notice the gap more and more. How they handle it has yet to be shown.
giadrosich:
Thanks for the thumbs-down. You just proved my point, even though you failed to understand it! 
mArtiAn:
You're missing 'opportunity'; there are countless people in the world who are educated, diligent and disciplined who will never have an opportunity to escape poverty because they are living in a position of economic slavery.
giadrosich:
I agree, but i also know that people who have wealth made their own opportunities. It is rarely a case of being in the "right place at the right time," although that does happen. A large part of it is priorities. If your goal is to be wealthy, and you have the diligence, education, and discipline, you will be. It won't come overnight, but like many things in life, is a long-term accomplishment.
One will not be limited by geography, associates, or circumstances. These are, for the wealthy minded, mere excuses and will be changed to further the goal. Overcoming "economic slavery" starts with changing how one thinks about themselves and their surroundings.
mArtiAn:
Sorry man, have to disagree, the world is mapped out in portions of opportunity and the lack there of. From 1st to 3rd world countries, depending on where you are born, your life is made either infinitely easier or infinitely harder. We were fortunate enough to have been born in 1st world countries (i'm guessing with you of course), and so the possibility of us being able to own a car, or a house, or a yacht is not so different to the challenges someone in a third world country may have in the simple matter of feeding his family and keeping shoes on their feet.
Personally I would be happy to see the monetary systems replaced by another, less easily corrupted manner of economizing the world's resources. All we have with the current system is the natural temptation to behave in a corrupt manner, for in this system one is either with or without, it is understandable that people should choose to chip and chisel off each other to survive. The greatest economies of this world reached their current positions of power by manipulating their neighbours into positions of vulnerablity in a number of underhanded and criminal ways. If we are to see such acts within our history as the rightful progress of the hunter/gatherer plowing the field of man, then we may as well open jail cells the world over and celebrate the go-getter spirit that filled them in the first place. In a world of such potential and abundant opportunity as this, I can only see our current system of inequality as an immaturity. A world in it's infancy.
I really shouldn't have had that fifth beer.
nevermind:
"Many people (being human nature) will say that those who are better off than them have somehow gotten the gain through underhanded means, luck, or by a gift. Very few want to admit that the other fellow had greater discipline, education, or work ethic. It just depends on priority."
That said, in China it's true. This place doesn't reward hard work, it rewards connections and dishonesty.
giadrosich:
@Martin. Excuses, excuses, excuses. Spoken like a true socialist.
