"Temporary" and "eternal"

(Baonghean) - I recently read in the newspaper a comment about the saying "Officials are temporary, the people are eternal," and I thought it was really insightful!

- What's so great about it?

- In a country where the people exist for generations, they are the greatest factor in creating a nation. The survival or demise of a country depends on its people. Being an official is only temporary; no matter how high the rank or how smooth the career path, ultimately, one will retire and become an ordinary citizen.

- Does that mean the officials are gone, the people are returning to their villages?

- That's right!

That sounds both good and true. But when people interpret that same statement from a modern perspective, it sounds both good and true, and also quite shocking!

- Shocked?

- That's shocking! People say that many know that being an official is only "temporary" and that eventually they'll return to being ordinary citizens. And once you're an ordinary citizen, everyone knows whether you're happy or miserable, so there's no need to say it out loud.

- And then what?

Therefore, many people in positions of power have the mindset of taking advantage of their "temporary" position to build up their material wealth so that when they return to being ordinary citizens, they will still be prosperous for generations to come.

- What do you mean?

- This is not my personal opinion, but rather a scientific research topic on the abnormal relationship between some officials and Party members in positions of power and businesses for personal gain, which is being implemented by the Central Inspection Committee. Initial results show that this "unethical relationship" is the root cause of corruption, bribery for positions and power, which is a serious problem in society.

Then we must take measures to eliminate that dangerous relationship!

Of course! But to put an end to that dangerous relationship, the essential thing is to eliminate the mentality of using "short-term gains" to support "long-term gains" among officials and party members in positions of power.

Phuc Vinh