The initial proposal of the system sparked intense social reactions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Within three months of the announcement, multiple cities witnessed protests and conflicts. The core demand of the protesters was straightforward: any arrangement requiring citizens to relinquish political rights should not be packaged as a voluntary option. Some demonstrations escalated into riots, leading to multiple parliamentary suspensions and a surge in constitutional court applications for judicial review of the law’s constitutionality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The government did not retract the proposal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Six months later, the constitutional amendment was passed. The language of the provisions was brief and neutral, avoiding any value judgments, and merely establishing institutional definitions and boundaries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The term ‘productive population’ refers to citizens who continue to participate in the labor market, bear economic risks, and fully exercise their political rights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The term ‘stable population’ refers to citizens who voluntarily exit the labor market, accept basic living guarantees, and voluntarily refrain from participating in political decision-making.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The provisions also clearly stated that individuals could freely switch between the two identities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Any citizen may voluntarily become a stable population;<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Any stable population may also choose to return at any time to become a productive population;<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Any choice shall not constitute a penalty or punishment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The final clause, which sparked the most controversy, stated:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This system is a concrete practice of democratic centralism, ensuring the stability and continuity of political decision-making.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After the constitutional amendment was passed, protests gradually subsided. The reasons were not officially recorded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the second year of implementation, Zhao Mingxiu entered the identity transition explanation department.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From the outset, his responsibilities did not include review or discretion. He did not judge who was suitable to become a stable population nor assess who should return. His sole task was to read the terms in full before the identity transition occurred and confirm the other party’s understanding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Understanding does not equate to agreement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Therefore, there were no tests, no scores, and no psychological evaluations in the process. Only one fixed question was asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘Do you understand that this is your own choice?’<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the applicant answered ‘yes’, the process would continue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For seven years, Zhao Mingxiu read the same set of words over ten thousand times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘Upon becoming a stable population, you will receive a basic housing unit.’<\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘The housing is for use only, not transferable, and does not count as personal assets.’<\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘You will receive a fixed living allowance sufficient to cover daily meals, public transport, and basic entertainment.’<\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘You will have complete medical coverage without additional premiums.’<\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘You will receive an annual allowance for clothing and durable goods updates.’<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At this point, most people would nod in agreement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He would then continue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘At the same time, you will no longer be classified as part of the productive population.’<\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘You will not participate in elections, be elected, engage in referendums, or any policy consultations.’<\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘You may still choose to return at any time to become a productive population.’<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Almost every time, someone would pause here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘What happens after I return?’ the applicant would ask.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Zhao Mingxiu would switch screens and read another set of terms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘Once you return, your identity as a stable population will terminate immediately.’<\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘The basic housing usage rights will end within thirty days.’<\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘The living allowance will cease.’<\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘You will be reintegrated into the labor market and general social security regulations.’<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some would ask more specific questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘Do I have to find a new job?’<\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘What if I can’t find one?’<\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘How does healthcare work?’<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He would answer each question in a neutral tone, without emphasis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘You will need to regularly submit job search records.’<\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘If you do not meet the minimum job search requirements, social assistance may be suspended.’<\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘Healthcare will revert to the general insurance system, and you will need to bear some costs during unemployment.’<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These explanations were not warnings, merely procedures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Applicants would typically fall silent for a moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘So returning does not mean going back to my original life?’ someone would ask.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘No,’ Zhao Mingxiu replied, ‘it means starting to compete again.’<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most people would nod, indicating their understanding, and then choose to become part of the stable population.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the early stages of the system’s operation, some individuals did indeed return. The proportion was low, but sufficient to form a sample. Data indicated that among those who chose to return, over 70% reapplied to become stable population within three months. The most frequently cited reasons in the comments were: uncertainty, fatigue, and high costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By the sixth year, the return rate stabilized at below 1%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This was not due to difficulty. All return processes could be completed online, requiring no justification or review. It was simply that most individuals chose to close the page after reading the terms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The proportion of stable population continued to rise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The proportion of productive population declined.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The social conflict index decreased.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Economic fluctuations became more stable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Voter turnout increased.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Policy documents described this phenomenon as a mature stage of democratic centralism. The population participating in politics decreased, but the risk and responsibility represented by each vote simultaneously increased.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the seventh year, the administrative unit issued a brief announcement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In light of the fact that the system has been fully understood by society, the identity transition explanation process will be fully online, with no on-site personnel for explanations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The announcement did not provide a reason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Internal data showed that the reading completion rate for the transition terms was nearing 100%. Most users could accurately recite the content without prompting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When Zhao Mingxiu received the notification, he was not surprised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His position was not marked for elimination but rather as ‘completion of phase tasks.’<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The system displayed new options for him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You currently belong to the productive population.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You may continue to participate in labor and political decision-making.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Or voluntarily transition to stable population.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The interface was identical to the one he had shown to others for many years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That day, he sat alone in the explanation room for the last time. The standard terms still displayed on the wall. These sentences no longer needed to be read aloud. The entire society could recite them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The next day, he logged into the system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The online transition interface had no explanations, only two options left.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Become a stable population<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Or<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Remain a productive population<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He clicked on ‘return explanation.’<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The screen displayed:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You have not yet transitioned, no need to return.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He returned to the main screen and chose ‘Become a stable population.’<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The system did not require him to confirm understanding again, nor did it ask him to reread the terms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The screen displayed only one line of text.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Transition complete.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The new address and benefit effective date were updated immediately. The political rights status was displayed as ‘not activated.’<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He closed the system and left the building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The streets were quiet. Election campaigns were still ongoing, but there was no longer a need to explain to everyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Democracy still existed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It had simply become a professional activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And Zhao Mingxiu, like most people, chose not to participate after fully understanding all of this.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
This article explores a fictional system that allows citizens to choose to become a stable population, relinquishing political rights for basic living guarantees, and analyzes its social implications.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2014,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false},"categories":[82],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2015","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hk-affairs"],"yoast_head":"\n