30. On Entrepreneurs:Exploiters Who Deserve Society's Full Respect and Admiration

When a business owner recognizes that the money he earns primarily comes from exploitation, he possesses the potential to become an entrepreneur. When he realizes that after his death, the money gained through exploitation should be returned to society rather than left to his descendants, he embodies the mindset of an entrepreneur.

Once enterprises become the economic cells of society, people are broadly divided into two categories: business owners and employees. Employees typically earn their income through their own labor contributions; business owners, however, derive only a small portion of their income from their own labor, with the majority stemming from exploitation. For enterprises whose productivity falls below the societal average, the owner's exploitative income primarily comes from exploiting their own employees. For enterprises with productivity exceeding the societal average, the owner's exploitative income primarily stems from exploiting employees of other enterprises in society.

Although owners engage in exploitation, this exploitation is beneficial because only by permitting it can economic development and societal progress be fostered.

Running a business carries immense risk, and this risk must be borne solely by the owner. Should the enterprise fail, the owner may face total ruin; Conversely, successful enterprises not only create jobs and address workers' livelihood needs but also generate tax revenue and drive technological innovation. Under this system where risks are borne solely by business owners while benefits are shared collectively, permitting exploitation is essential to incentivize entrepreneurship. Without such exploitation, no one would be willing to start businesses. Without enterprises, socioeconomic development would stagnate, citizen welfare would remain stagnant, and the nation would inevitably face material scarcity and economic decline. The exploitation by business owners serves both as society's reward for their willingness to take risks and as a vital engine for socioeconomic progress. Precisely because running a business entails immense risk, those who willingly shoulder this burden alone yet ultimately benefit society as a whole deserve not only full legal protection but also widespread societal respect. Thus, "boss" is a title of immense respect.

Driven by human self-interest, many business owners recognize that their wealth primarily stems from exploitation, yet they still strive to pass it on to their descendants through various means. However, some business owners are different. They are called entrepreneurs because they overcome human self-interest, returning wealth to society rather than leaving it to their descendants. This is because entrepreneurs recognize the following points:

1. Their wealth was originally acquired through exploitation and inherently belongs to society.

2. Their contributions to society have already been sufficiently rewarded through the wealth they enjoyed.

3. If their descendants contribute to society, they will receive corresponding rewards without needing inherited wealth; if they fail to contribute, they should not enjoy wealth extracted from society, lest they face societal backlash.

4. Inheritance of property is a major cause of social polarization and eventual collapse.

Entrepreneurs are inevitably beneficiaries of democratic systems, and thus must also be defenders of democracy. As the vanguard of democratic society, they deserve universal respect from citizens.

Not every business owner can be called an entrepreneur. Only those possessing extraordinary intellect, indomitable spirit, noble character, and a steadfast commitment to defending democracy can truly be called entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs shoulder social responsibility, lead the trends of the times, and propel societal progress. They are the elite among business owners. Becoming an entrepreneur should be the aspiration of every business owner. It is precisely the entrepreneurial spirit that inspires society to advance relentlessly.