A recent survey in Guangzhou, capital of South China's Guangdong Province, found that the majority of its respondents hold positive views on the role of high-income groups in promoting social development and do not bear hatred towards them, as had been assumed previously. Media articles have commented on the finding.

Corruption, not the rich, under fire

An article by Ma Guochuan in the Jiangnan Times says that the public are not hostile towards wealthy people, but rather, they feel negatively about those who get rich by means of corruption.

The survey indicates that mainstream public opinion in Guangzhou does not conform to a so-called hate-the-rich mentality, supposedly prevalent in Chinese society. However, it is an undeniable fact that there is a handful of people who do have a blind hatred towards the rich.

Even though it is part of traditional Chinese culture to think an uneven distribution of wealth is more of a concern than poverty, it is equally traditional to think a man of honour should acquire wealth in a proper way. Today, if one can get rich quickly through hard work, the general public response will be admiration, not hatred.

However, in real life, some people get rich overnight in illegal ways. In such cases, the public will naturally question their behaviour and despise them.

Therefore, the hate-the-rich mentality is not targeted at all wealthy people, but only at those who have acquired their wealth illegally. The public are not worried about uneven distribution of wealth but unfair distribution of wealth.

Guangzhou residents set an example

An article in the Yanzhao Metropolis Daily hails the attitudes of Guangzhou residents towards wealth.

Stressing legal and transparent way of acquiring wealth, the article says that the survey results indicate the majority of Guangzhou residents believe the rich people they have encountered got wealth through hard work and legal competition. This belief makes hard work a much cherished virtue, which, as shown in the public mentality, is characterized by a willingness to compete, open-mindedness and confidence.

It cannot be ignored that Guangzhou residents' attitudes towards the rich have been brewed in the city's special environment. The city, as the pioneer of China's reform and opening-up, has achieved remarkable things over the years. The city's tailored economic, cultural and legal policies have provided wider room for the personal development of its residents. The maturing market economy has been conducive to the establishment of a mechanism for fair employment. An economically advanced, open and fair environment has prompted its residents to shake off the conservative mind-set and fostered an attitude that is open-minded, confident, eager to compete and acquire wealth.

The article concludes by suggesting that other cities should learn from Guangzhou people's positive attitude towards wealth.