Why can't the poor at the bottom achieve primitive accumulation of capital?
Taking Mr. Ma's family as an example, a family of migrant workers. In 2000, my parents were 30 years old. After ten years of hard work, they finally spent 55,000 yuan to buy their first house in the county town. In the next two or three decades, they would have purely accumulated wealth. In 2008, my parents saved nearly 150,000 yuan again. My eldest uncle wanted to show filial piety to my grandfather, so he took my dad back to the countryside to build a house. My mom didn't want to, and my dad felt that since my uncle was showing filial piety, he should do the same; otherwise, he would be criticized in the village. So our family contributed 100,000 yuan to build a house in the countryside, almost depleting our savings. The key point is, to this day, no one lives in that house; it's empty and sitting in the village. My grandfather lives in my uncle's house. In 2014, my parents saved another nearly 200,000 yuan. Unfortunately, my dad was diagnosed with stomach cancer, underwent two surgeries, six rounds of chemotherapy, and took a few years to rest. The 200,000 yuan was spent, but luckily, my dad's cancer was cured. In 2020, I was working, and my parents also started working again for a few years, saving another small 200,000 yuan. According to the usual path, this 200,000 yuan would be my bride price, but I said I didn't need it. My mom said, "Our house hasn't been renovated in 20 years. Let's spend 200,000 to renovate it..." Until 2023, when my parents are 53 years old. I finally realized that my parents don't even have pension insurance. Well, they do have some rural pension, paying 100 yuan annually, and after 60, they receive over 100 yuan each year. I was a bit speechless—money to build a house in the village, money to marry a wife, but no money to pay for their own pension, right? I found that it's too late to contribute to flexible pension plans, so I forced them to pay the full amount of rural pension each year—500 yuan per month, which is also 500 yuan received monthly, better than 150. If they have no pension and in 10-20 years lose their ability to work, won't I have to spend money to "show filial piety" again? One generation burdens the next. Have you noticed? When my parents save money to a certain extent, they will spend it in various ways. They are reluctant to spend small amounts, often splurging big money for "face." They don't want to spend a penny on social security or health checkups, and haven't had a health exam in decades. If they don't get sick, they will probably just renovate or buy a car, and that's it—no more savings. Next, they will go all-in on their child's wedding, and then their "task" in life will be considered complete. My parents' situation is a microcosm of most ordinary rural Chinese people.
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Why can't the poor at the bottom achieve primitive accumulation of capital?
Taking Mr. Ma's family as an example, a family of migrant workers.
In 2000, my parents were 30 years old. After ten years of hard work, they finally spent 55,000 yuan to buy their first house in the county town. In the next two or three decades, they would have purely accumulated wealth.
In 2008, my parents saved nearly 150,000 yuan again.
My eldest uncle wanted to show filial piety to my grandfather, so he took my dad back to the countryside to build a house.
My mom didn't want to, and my dad felt that since my uncle was showing filial piety, he should do the same; otherwise, he would be criticized in the village.
So our family contributed 100,000 yuan to build a house in the countryside, almost depleting our savings.
The key point is, to this day, no one lives in that house; it's empty and sitting in the village. My grandfather lives in my uncle's house.
In 2014, my parents saved another nearly 200,000 yuan. Unfortunately, my dad was diagnosed with stomach cancer, underwent two surgeries, six rounds of chemotherapy, and took a few years to rest. The 200,000 yuan was spent, but luckily, my dad's cancer was cured.
In 2020, I was working, and my parents also started working again for a few years, saving another small 200,000 yuan.
According to the usual path, this 200,000 yuan would be my bride price, but I said I didn't need it.
My mom said, "Our house hasn't been renovated in 20 years. Let's spend 200,000 to renovate it..."
Until 2023, when my parents are 53 years old.
I finally realized that my parents don't even have pension insurance. Well, they do have some rural pension, paying 100 yuan annually, and after 60, they receive over 100 yuan each year.
I was a bit speechless—money to build a house in the village, money to marry a wife, but no money to pay for their own pension, right?
I found that it's too late to contribute to flexible pension plans, so I forced them to pay the full amount of rural pension each year—500 yuan per month, which is also 500 yuan received monthly, better than 150.
If they have no pension and in 10-20 years lose their ability to work, won't I have to spend money to "show filial piety" again? One generation burdens the next.
Have you noticed? When my parents save money to a certain extent, they will spend it in various ways. They are reluctant to spend small amounts, often splurging big money for "face." They don't want to spend a penny on social security or health checkups, and haven't had a health exam in decades.
If they don't get sick, they will probably just renovate or buy a car, and that's it—no more savings.
Next, they will go all-in on their child's wedding, and then their "task" in life will be considered complete.
My parents' situation is a microcosm of most ordinary rural Chinese people.