Dodson - Chapter 2

According to Dodson, China is struggling with "The Four Stresses" (pg. 28). These stresses are the “escalating cost of owning a home…education costs… the competition for jobs” and “expensive and overstretched health care” (pg. 27). The rapid growth of the population is also a large concern. It was not the issues themselves that surprised me, but the severity of these issues. I was also surprised by how similar these problems are to problems we are currently facing in America. In a sense, China does have more reason to be stressed, and I believe American’s should consider themselves lucky in many ways. For one, China is much smaller than America. Combine that with their large population and it isn’t difficult to see how jobs can become very competitive and scarce. The violent protests and murders in China do seem… excessive. But this chapter did make me feel a bit more connected to China in a way. I feel so disconnected from the rest of the world sometimes, but Dodson’s explanation of four common issues breaks down a bit of a barrier. Education costs are a very difficult problem to deal with right now in America, especially for college students. I am sure many can relate to that issue.

It seems as though China has a much more urgent need for change, but I think both China and America have an equal need for anxieties.