To the Enthusiastic Members and Branch Leaders Under Pressure

Because of rising cost-sharing, many enthusiastic members and branch leaders have come under pressure in various settings. They actively defend the Commune with no personal interest in it whatsoever. They set out with the mindset of serving everyone and addressing medical costs, and now they are criticized and attacked by people who do not know the facts, which must be very upsetting. Here I want to express our particular sympathy and gratitude to you.

First, we — you and I — have done nothing wrong.

The rise in cost-sharing is an inevitable part of the development of mutual aid, and contributions will inevitably rise to a certain equilibrium point. That point is determined jointly by the average benefits of members and the average incidence rate, and it cannot be controlled by human will. People's failure to understand is temporary.

On transparency, too, the Commune has spared no effort and is still strengthening it; there is no clear fault here.

Second, we remain very healthy.

As I have written before, KangAi Commune is like a pond: water flows in and water flows out, but the pond is always there, which is a sign of good health. Despite being misunderstood by many people today, KangAi Commune remains very healthy.

Third, we must continue to bear the pressure.

For many reasons, this pressure will continue to exist.

Finally, only hard work can change the outcome.

Changing public awareness is not the work of a single day or night, and we cannot accomplish it in one campaign; only through long-term persistence and hard work is there any chance of reaching the ideal.

As for the current situation, the people who most need to reflect are us operators at the center. There have been many foolish decisions — being overly cautious about bringing in outside capital, an excessive moral puritanism, excessively strict cost control, and over-emphasizing the long term without focusing on the present — and these are what have left the Commune facing such pressure today. I will certainly reflect on this and work to correct it.

As for the enthusiastic members and branch leaders: you all help the Commune in your spare time, with no profit in it, and in many cases you need not push yourselves — just let things take their course and laugh it off. Above all, do not let this affect your normal work and life. Once again, our thanks to the enthusiastic members and branch leaders who are under pressure.