Chapter 139 Sharp
Lin Daoyuan smoked quietly. As a senior intellectual and a cadre working in the Planning Commission, he certainly understood what economics was and also understood the purpose of Song Yuanchao's proposal of this point of view.
The example cited by Song Yuanchao is very appropriate. In the feudal era, due to the backward productivity and people's insufficient understanding of value, such a view emerged. This view has long been determined to be wrong. Marx also gave a detailed description of the nature of value in Capital, which is beyond doubt.
If this is the case, then this point also proves Song Yuanchao's judgment and provides an answer.
"Uncle, you..." Seeing that Lin Daoyuan hadn't said anything and just sat there quietly, Song Yuanchao, who felt a little uneasy, couldn't help but speak.
"Have you discussed these with your classmates or teachers?" Lin Daoyuan asked.
Song Yuanchao shook his head. "If you hadn't asked me today, I wouldn't have said this. After all, there are too many debates about the economy right now. In fact, not only schools, but the whole society is also discussing this issue. But I believe that since the country has formulated an open policy, it is likely that there has been a conclusion on these issues."
"Mr. Li once said that the truth becomes clearer the more it is debated. The Chairman also agreed with his view at that time. We cannot avoid some issues, and facts have proved that we cannot avoid them. On the road of reform today, we need to explore and debate. Only in this way can we better see the direction of progress!" Lin Daoyuan said to Song Yuanchao.
“What do you think of the current market opening?”
"I think this is a good thing." Song Yuanchao answered without hesitation.
"Oh, then tell me what's good about it?"
Song Yuanchao said: "The policy of reform and opening up was determined at the Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee. Theoretically, there is a profound theoretical basis for promoting reform and opening up, which is the basic contradiction of Marxism about society - the contradiction between productive forces and production relations, and the contradiction between economic base and superstructure. Reform and opening up is to adjust production relations, and its purpose is to promote the development of productive forces, promote productivity..."
Without waiting for Song Yuanchao to finish, Lin Daoyuan waved his hand and said, "Alright, don't endorse me, these things are all in the newspapers, just tell me your personal opinion directly."
Song Yuanchao smiled embarrassedly: "Uncle, in fact, for individuals, the view is very simple, that is, as an ordinary person, what do I need and what do I want, and whether my family lives a good life. The main purpose of the country's reform and opening up is this, to let the people live a good life and make our country strong, so this is a good thing!"
"Well said!" Lin Daoyuan said with emotion: "The simplest truth is often the right one . This is the purpose of our doing this and the goal we are striving for! However, this is a long and arduous task, and it is not easy to do well."
Song Yuanchao nodded without saying anything, and listened quietly as Lin Daoyuan continued, "Many comrades have different opinions on the opening of the market this time. It is not easy to make such a decision. It is also a test. Although it will attract a lot of criticism, from the current situation, although there are shortcomings, there are more good sides."
"Next, this kind of openness will gradually increase and be promoted. The previously muddy market will become active as it opens up, thereby promoting production, liberating productivity, making the people richer and the country stronger!"
Song Yuanchao nodded in agreement, but his expression seemed as if he had something to say.
"What? You have a different opinion?" Lin Daoyuan asked puzzledly.
"That's not the case, it's just that I suddenly remembered a question."
"Oh, what's the problem ?"
"Uncle, let me ask you, are our state-owned enterprises ready for market opening now?" Song Yuanchao asked. This question surprised Lin Daoyuan.
"Tell me in detail." Lin Daoyuan's expression became a little serious and he looked at Song Yuanchao.
Song Yuanchao asked calmly, "Uncle, you work in the Planning Commission, and you know very well that the current operating model of many of our enterprises is nothing more than planned production, planned sales, and even planned development. It can be said that everything in the enterprise survives under the planned economy model. This is caused by policies all the time. It has been 30 years since the founding of the People's Republic of China. This system has penetrated into the bones of enterprises. In the minds of many enterprise leaders, what they call enterprise management is nothing more than three points: obey the arrangements from above, plan procurement and production according to the requirements from above, and then sell the products according to the plan. There is no need to consider market changes, raw materials and cost factors, let alone whether the things can be sold? Do you think I am right?"
Lin Daoyuan's expression became particularly serious. He did not expect Song Yuanchao to raise such a question. In fact, this issue had been discussed internally, and some comrades had also raised similar questions to the ones Song Yuanchao asked today.
"In addition to management, there are also various problems with the employees' thinking. Let's not talk about other things. The problem of the big pot is very serious. It doesn't matter whether you do a good job or a bad job. Anyway, you get paid every month. I'm sure you know this, uncle."
"Market opening, or reform and opening up, is a major trend, which cannot be denied. But uncle, once many of our state-owned enterprises are directly facing the market without being well prepared, will they be able to survive in the cruel market competition?"
Song Yuanchao looked very serious: "You heard it right. I used the word cruel to describe the market. Under the planned economy system, the market can be said to be stagnant and lacks competition, resulting in low productivity. This is indeed a big problem."
"But when the times change and the market opens up, many companies will have a good time in the beginning due to the surge in market demand. However, as the market gradually becomes saturated and the direction of demand changes, competition will inevitably arise. This kind of competition is not the same as the competition between industries before, and it cannot be solved by planning."
"This competition is a competition among various types of capital for the market, such as state-owned enterprises, collective enterprises, individuals, and even private and foreign capital that may appear in the future. I think you know Marx's definition of capital better than I do. In such a cruel competition , how can these companies survive? Can they survive?"
Looking at Lin Daoyuan who was frowning, Song Yuanchao continued, "If my judgment is correct, this situation will continue to occur in a few years. Due to backward concepts, simple management methods, and serious internal friction, a large number of enterprises that are accustomed to relying on the planned economic system will inevitably collapse under this impact."
"But the current policy is to carry out limited market opening under the planned economic system," Lin Daoyuan countered.
"You are right, but you should know that this model will change. Two different economic systems cannot coexist forever. There must be a primary and a secondary. When the market opens up to a certain extent, the role of planning will gradually be replaced by the market itself. You just said that reform and opening up is a major trend, a long-term policy, and a means to break the previously rigid market. So don't you think that what I envision will not happen?"
"A state-owned enterprise, especially a large one, is not just about the enterprise itself. It is dependent on millions of workers and their families. Once the enterprise collapses, it is these families that are directly affected. It is for this reason, uncle, that I remind you that we must be prepared to meet competition before the full market opening, so as to minimize future losses."
Lin Daoyuan didn't speak for a long time. Song Yuanchao's words really surprised him. He didn't expect Song Yuanchao to ask such a sharp question.
"How did you come up with this idea?" Lin Daoyuan asked after a long while.
"Do you remember that I used to work in a school-run factory in Shanghai?"
Seeing Lin Daoyuan nodded, Song Yuanchao talked about the current situation of the school-run factory. In fact, there had been some signs of this situation before he was admitted to university, but at that time it had not affected the operation of the entire school-run factory.
At that time, Song Yuanchao tactfully reminded Director , because he had already seen the trend of market change and the impact on the company at that time, but Director Ma did not think this was a problem. On the contrary, he felt that Song Yuanchao was a little too worried.
Facts have proved that Song Yuanchao was right. With the opening of the market, especially the changes in the market before and after National Day, the orders for the school-run factory have further dropped sharply. If it were not for the printing workshop left by Song Yuanchao before he left, and the current switch to the production of fake collars, I am afraid that the school-run factory would no longer be able to sustain itself.
Although the school-run factory is only a small collective enterprise, the principle is the same. Although those large state-owned enterprises have the support of the state, when faced with a greater impact, the losses caused by mishandling are irreversible.
Lin Daoyuan is not an ordinary citizen. For ordinary people, perhaps what they think in their minds is very simple. Many people think that since the enterprise belongs to the country, they work for the country. If there is a problem with the enterprise, the country will naturally take care of it. What do ordinary people need to worry about?
But this view is precisely wrong. When the market is open to a certain extent, the relevant departments are powerless to regulate these enterprises even if they want to. They have to input funds for a long time or even unlimitedly to provide blood transfusions to the enterprises, but they cannot see any hope of recovery. In this case, all they can do is to take drastic measures.
When enterprises and factories collapse, those leaders may still have a job and can become officials in other places. But what about ordinary families who have worked in these enterprises for most of their lives, or even two or three generations of a couple, father and son, brothers, and sisters? Where will they go?
As Song Yuanchao continued to talk, Lin Daoyuan suddenly felt that their considerations in this regard were not thorough. Just as Song Yuanchao asked, were state-owned enterprises really prepared? If such a result really happened as Song Yuanchao said, the impact and consequences would be extremely serious.
Lin Daoyuan couldn't help but ponder...
