Regarding the spread of prοtests from the Middle East to China, people need to understand China is a completely different ballgame. The actual, primary driver of the prοtests in the Middle East is economic, not religious. The common, low income people have reached their breaking point, fed by a number of factors starting with a government that won't do what is needed to support improving lifestyles for them and ending with this year's rising commodity (food) prices in places where the cost of food makes up a much higher percentage of much lower income levels. Let's start with the fact that, though they are certainly far from perfect, the Chinese government is easily applauded for doing a remarkable and historically unprecedented job of raising 300 million of it's citizens out of poverty into the world's most vibrant, rising, debt-free middle class in the world. No small feat, folks. For hundreds of millions of people, life has never been better than it is right now in China. That's a very different environment than that which defines the situation in the Middle Eastern countries experiencing these prοtests. Now there is undoubtedly a wealth gap between the country farmer population of China compared to the rising, middle-class urban dwellers, however, unlike the Middle Eastern country governments, this is not something the Chinese government ignores.

Their most recent 5 year plan reveals extensive commitments to improve the lifestyle circumstances of rural Chinese citizens.

Secondly, the Chinese local and government police forces are much more adept and experienced at nipping such possible, brewing prοtests in the bud well in advance.

China is getting expensive, really expensive to live, and America is getting cheap, really cheap to live. We live in Shanghai, and even shopping at the local farmer's markets and grocery stores, we can now confirm that chicken, pork, and beef are now much higher priced in local Shanghai than in local Phoenix or Los Angeles. We can buy nice cuts of beef in America for $5/lb. In China, the price is more like $7-10/lb. Same for fish, such as fresh salmon, much more expensive in Shanghai. That's scary. We're not talking about imported goods, we're talking local food supply. We found that vegetables and fruits are priced about the same, for example, $2 for a 5 oz pack of fresh blueberries, $2.50/lb for fresh strawberries. We shopped at pharmacies like Walgreens and CVS, and we find nutrition products at far cheaper prices, with 30% of the stock always on sale at 2 for 1. Renting a car is and always has been cheap in America and still is, thought I'd suggest you avoid Fox Rent-A-Car at LAX. We found nice, family holiday hotels like Howard Johnsons for $45 per night throughout the city; even a nice, local hotel 2.5 blocks from the Redondo Beach Pier for only $65 per night including continental breakfast.

Comparing real estate, decent middle class homes in the greater Phoenix area can be bought in the range of $50-70/sq ft, $80-100/sq ft, and $150-200/sq ft for starter, mid-level and luxury level homes in the Phoenix area. We found a prime location, luxury, 1600 sq ft tri-level townhome across the street from the beach in Redondo Beach for only $550/sq ft. The total price was $870,000. Approaching the Open House sign, I expected it to be closer to 1.5 million. Right now in Shanghai or Beijing, $550/sq ft buys you middle class average at best. No wonder Chinese investors are arriving on the shores of America with suitcases full of cash.