(http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/pb-121009-coffin-apartments-ps1.photoblog900.jpg)Damir Sagolj / ReutersAkee, 34, who works as a waiter, rests in a wooden box where he lives in Hong Kong October 9, 2012. (http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/pb-121009-coffin-apartments-ps3.photoblog900.jpg)Damir Sagolj / ReutersA movie is shown on a television in a common area between wooden boxes where people live in Hong Kong, October 9, 2012.(http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/pb-121009-coffin-apartments-ps2.photoblog900.jpg)Damir Sagolj / ReutersA television placed inside a wooden box used for living in Hong Kong October 9, 2012. (http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/pb-121009-coffin-apartments-ps4.photoblog900.jpg)Damir Sagolj / ReutersA NGO worker speaks to people living in wooden boxes in Hong Kong, October 9, 2012. By Phaedra Singelis, NBC NewsIn Hong Kong, affordable apartments are so scarce that people are living in spaces much like an enclosed bunk bed. These so called "coffin homes" fit a single bed and aren't high enough to stand in. Residents share a common space with a toilet and sink and pay about $155-180 per month for the space. Nearby is some of the most expensive real estate and luxury stores among the city's gleaming skyscrapers.
In New York City, a similar disparity is taking place, with new towers going up and multi-million dollar apartments in high demand while a similar building boom is happening for tiny, 200-square foot apartments. But at least they aren't coffin-sized.Explore related topics: china (http://www.theinfostride.com/china), hong-kong (http://www.theinfostride.com/hong-kong), apartment (http://www.theinfostride.com/apartment), world-news (http://www.theinfostride.com/world-news), affordable-living (http://www.theinfostride.com/affordable-living)
- older7hoursagoAngela Merkel greeted warmly by prime minister, but not by Greeksnewer3hoursagoAfghanistan's first female rapper breaks tradition, busts rhymesDiscuss this post (http://www.cdn.newsvine.com/_vine/images/_/b_star.gif) (http://www.theinfostride.com/#star2)(http://www.cdn.newsvine.com/_vine/images/_/blank.gif) (http://beanboy.newsvine.com/)BeanBoy (http://beanboy.newsvine.com/)This lifestyle is going to be the norm in a few more years, because of the number of poorly-educated people taking whatever low-paying job they can find. Our growing population is another factor. (http://www.cdn.newsvine.com/_vine/images/_/b_reply_mini.gif)#1 (http://www.theinfostride.com/#c70863792) - Tue Oct 9, 2012 12:18 PM EDT(http://www.cdn.newsvine.com/_vine/images/_/blank.gif) (http://allen-shore.newsvine.com/)Allen_Shore (http://allen-shore.newsvine.com/)I took a tour of a US Destroyer and was shocked at the tiny space our servicemen are expected to live in. Looked about the same as the pictures above, so I guess it depends on your perspective.#1.1 (http://www.theinfostride.com/#c70870860) - Tue Oct 9, 2012 3:00 PM EDT(http://www.cdn.newsvine.com/_vine/images/_/b_star.gif) (http://www.theinfostride.com/#star3)(http://www.cdn.newsvine.com/_vine/images/_/blank.gif) (http://lessthan99.newsvine.com/)lessThan99% (http://lessthan99.newsvine.com/)I fear you may be right but the cause will be globalization of the US economy and the willful destruction of the poor, working and middle class by those at the top who want more for themselves and less for everyone else... the uber rich and their paid for political whores.
Give China most favored nation status, ship all our manufacturing jobs there, import 10's of millions of illegals to take the few remaining low wage jobs and then import millions of special visa workers (H-1B, L-1 etc) to take what is left of the middle class jobs and then keep legal immigration at insanely high levels (over 1 million a year) to soak up what is left and there isn't much work for the average American.
How about this proposal...
For each half of 1% of unemployment over 5% a half of one percent of those in congress (house and senate) will be executed.
Want to see the economy get better in a flash and get those lazy jerks in congress to do something to help regular people rather than corporate interests? This will light a fire under them.#1.2 (http://www.theinfostride.com/#c70871381) - Tue Oct 9, 2012 3:12 PM EDT(http://www.cdn.newsvine.com/_vine/images/_/blank.gif) (http://bob128.newsvine.com/)bob1/28 (http://bob128.newsvine.com/)LessThan99%
You got it !!!!!!
The average American has been dumb ed down so much that they do not see this cumming. All they have to do is look at the real job numbers and then look at what sector of our economy is creating those jobs. The real and good paying jobs are still off shore and will not return. The top 1% has the heel of their Jack Boot on our throat and yet no one sees it.#1.3 (http://www.theinfostride.com/#c70872721) - Tue Oct 9, 2012 3:41 PM EDT(http://www.cdn.newsvine.com/_vine/images/_/blank.gif) (http://lessthan99.newsvine.com/)lessThan99% (http://lessthan99.newsvine.com/)bob1/28 - you got it right. Sadly most people in this country don't see that those politicians on both the left and right who they think are working for them are spreading their legs for the globalists. They promote divisiveness and put up straw men arguments to fool the weak minded folks into voting for them instead of throwing them out of DC on the pointy-end of a pitchfork.
I have a feeling mass riots are coming in the next few years regardless of who takes the White House.
With the hundreds of millions of guns in the US it will probably make the protests in Greece look like a Sunday picnic.#1.4 (http://www.theinfostride.com/#c70873129) - Tue Oct 9, 2012 3:50 PM EDT(http://www.cdn.newsvine.com/_vine/images/_/blank.gif) (http://ac1105116.newsvine.com/)AC-1105116 (http://ac1105116.newsvine.com/)and here you have the Fifth Element apartments..!!! WOW..#1.5 (http://www.theinfostride.com/#c70874770) - Tue Oct 9, 2012 4:24 PM EDT(http://www.cdn.newsvine.com/_vine/images/_/b_reply_mini.gif)(http://www.cdn.newsvine.com/_vine/images/_/blank.gif) (http://catchick1974.newsvine.com/)CatChick74 (http://catchick1974.newsvine.com/)I have a modest home - approx 1,800 sq ft - and I live alone with my two purr monsters. What a picture that paints, I know, but it's the way I like it...for now. No matter how my living arrangements may change with time, I could never share common living areas with others I don't really know.
How do these people function with virtually no privacy or space?(http://www.cdn.newsvine.com/_vine/images/_/b_reply_mini.gif)#2 (http://www.theinfostride.com/#c70865171) - Tue Oct 9, 2012 12:51 PM EDT(http://www.cdn.newsvine.com/_vine/images/_/blank.gif) (http://troy1101.newsvine.com/)Troy1101 (http://troy1101.newsvine.com/)Im not so sure I would consider 1800 sp ft of living space for one person "modest"....even in America. But I guess everything is relative.#2.1 (http://www.theinfostride.com/#c70869305) - Tue Oct 9, 2012 2:24 PM EDT(http://www.cdn.newsvine.com/_vine/images/_/blank.gif) (http://phantomsoul.newsvine.com/)PhantomSoul (http://phantomsoul.newsvine.com/)I'm sorry, but 1800 sq ft for 1 person and 2 cats is not modest when there are places in the United States where a 600 sq ft apartment would require you to make a 6-figure salary to afford.#2.2 (http://www.theinfostride.com/#c70872442) - Tue Oct 9, 2012 3:35 PM EDT(http://www.cdn.newsvine.com/_vine/images/_/blank.gif) (http://califgringo.newsvine.com/)Abused Citizen-1071875 (http://califgringo.newsvine.com/)Chick, There are those who will demand that you "Share the Wealth".#2.3 (http://www.theinfostride.com/#c70874965) - Tue Oct 9, 2012 4:28 PM EDT(http://www.cdn.newsvine.com/_vine/images/_/b_reply_mini.gif)(http://www.cdn.newsvine.com/_vine/images/_/b_star.gif) (http://www.theinfostride.com/#star4)(http://www.cdn.newsvine.com/_vine/images/_/blank.gif) (http://robert2kool-1.newsvine.com/)Robert Husted (http://robert2kool-1.newsvine.com/)Bean Boy:
Education does not guarantee a good income. Our economic models prove that. I work for myself, work hard and smart, but am far from Rich. Woe is the person has no choice but to take that low paying job. Heck it may even be you one day.(http://www.cdn.newsvine.com/_vine/images/_/b_reply_mini.gif)#3 (http://www.theinfostride.com/#c70865217) - Tue Oct 9, 2012 12:52 PM EDT(http://www.cdn.newsvine.com/_vine/images/_/blank.gif) (http://deweyball.newsvine.com/)deweydan (http://deweyball.newsvine.com/)We have homeless here in the United States living in cardboard boxes. Guess the two Countries aren't all that different.(http://www.cdn.newsvine.com/_vine/images/_/b_reply_mini.gif)#4 (http://www.theinfostride.com/#c70865439) - Tue Oct 9, 2012 12:56 PM EDT(http://www.cdn.newsvine.com/_vine/images/_/blank.gif) (http://seesthrugloss.newsvine.com/)Sees Thru Gloss (http://seesthrugloss.newsvine.com/)With the proper type of glue, cardboard living might become a viable alternative.#4.1 (http://www.theinfostride.com/#c70872365) - Tue Oct 9, 2012 3:34 PM EDT(http://www.cdn.newsvine.com/_vine/images/_/b_reply_mini.gif)(http://www.cdn.newsvine.com/_vine/images/_/b_star.gif) (http://www.theinfostride.com/#star5)(http://www.cdn.newsvine.com/_vine/images/_/blank.gif) (http://warrenhh.newsvine.com/)warrren (http://warrenhh.newsvine.com/)Breed like Rabbits, Live like Rabbits.(http://www.cdn.newsvine.com/_vine/images/_/b_reply_mini.gif)#5 (http://www.theinfostride.com/#c70866229) - Tue Oct 9, 2012 1:14 PM EDT(http://www.cdn.newsvine.com/_vine/images/_/blank.gif) (http://dhemphill.newsvine.com/)skilife (http://dhemphill.newsvine.com/)These boarding houses are bigger than "coffins" and are much more like a walled in bunk bed. Wear headphones when you watch that movie and take that cell phone outside if you want to talk late or early. The city has plenty of nice places to hang out. Nobody really hangs out much in these houses. Just a place to sleep.(http://www.cdn.newsvine.com/_vine/images/_/b_reply_mini.gif)#6 (http://www.theinfostride.com/#c70868698) - Tue Oct 9, 2012 2:11 PM EDT(http://www.cdn.newsvine.com/_vine/images/_/blank.gif) (http://annievanleur.newsvine.com/)Annie-322924 (http://annievanleur.newsvine.com/)I don't care what it would take for me to find a new and affordable place to live rather than spend my precious and limited time on Earth life living in a 'coffin'. Whether New York or Hong Kong, it doesn't matter. I'll live in Kansas and wait tables before I come home to THAT.#6.1 (http://www.theinfostride.com/#c70872835) - Tue Oct 9, 2012 3:44 PM EDT(http://www.cdn.newsvine.com/_vine/images/_/b_reply_mini.gif)
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