From Chinese Press

Housing a real problem

(China Daily)
Updated: 2011-06-10 09:48

Some authorities in Fujian province have started a campaign to eliminate exhibitionist advertisements from the housing market, because they think the ads will force people who cannot afford houses to assume that "houses are being built for only the rich". Such ads, they say, create an impulsive and luxurious climate that runs counter to socialist ideology and ethical progress, says an article on southcn.com. Excerpts:

It is true that exhibitionist ads hurt the feelings of the low- and middle-income groups and will aggravate their bitterness toward the rich. But the low- and middle-income groups' housing problem cannot be solved only by banning such ads.

It is more important and essential to find ways to make housing available to such groups than to just regulate real estate ads. Governments and relevant departments have to coordinate their efforts to build more houses that can be rented or bought by the low- and middle-income groups to improve their standards of living and strike a balance between supply and demand in real estate market.

Besides, authorities at all levels should take measures to curb rising housing prices.

People resent the rich not because of their wealth but because the rich have failed to fulfill their social responsibility. Therefore, the key to easing such resentment is to encourage the rich to shoulder their social responsibility.

Apart from encouraging the rich to perform their social duties, governments and relevant departments should establish a sound system to stimulate companies to recruit more people, raise employees' wage and improve their welfare security, and contribute more to charity.