Outside of the Westeros system, at the macro level, the biggest excitement in October, apart from the presidential embarrassment that is still being pursued by the Republican Party, is the large-scale plan for the United States' first fiscal surplus year in 29 years since 1969. publicity.
This is naturally the work of the Democratic Party.
In the just past federal fiscal year from October 1997 to September 1998, the United States' annual fiscal revenue was US$1.72 trillion, and its actual fiscal expenditure for the year was US$1.65 trillion, resulting in a final fiscal balance of US$69.2 billion.
After the data was released on October 16, just as the Republican Party spent tens of millions of dollars on advertising to publicize the president's scandal, the Democratic Party also invested a lot of resources to widely publicize the news to emphasize Clinton. Of course, this time it was mainly the Democratic Party. , the U.S. economy has achieved dazzling results in the six years since it took office.
Compared with the zipper door that has caused people to feel aesthetic fatigue, the financial and economic data that are closely related to itself are obviously more impressive.
According to statistics from some polling agencies, just the weekend after October 16th, the Democratic Party's support rate increased by about five percentage points in just three days in the new week, and the White House immediately seized on this data. Attack decisively to try to reverse Clinton's declining popularity this year due to continuing scandals.
Ultimately, it's all about the upcoming 1998 midterm elections on November 3.
For power.
The Westeros system will inevitably be affected.
Still about Blockbuster.
After Simon's big move, especially the release of Daenerys Entertainment's once again dazzling annual financial report, considering the current terrifying size of Daenerys Entertainment, everyone understands that if Blockbuster is really strong With their hearts expanding again, whether they are fellow rental manufacturers or major production giants, life will not be easy in the future.
Finally chose to compromise.
On October 22, under the witness of the Ministry of Justice, the parties finally reached an agreement.
Subsequently, the matter was stuck in the Ministry of Justice.
Clinton personally sent someone to send a message to Simon. The mid-term elections are coming soon. The Democratic Party really does not want too many surprises to happen. Daenerys Entertainment's acquisition of Blockbuster and the further rise of the oligarchs are undoubtedly an accident that can easily stir up public sentiment. . If the Republicans attack the Democrats on this matter, accusing the White House of having allowed too much mergers between giants in the past few years, resulting in industry monopolies, it will inevitably damage the support rate.
In short, we have to wait until after November 3rd.
Simon could only accept it.
Not only that, Clinton also hopes that Simon can let go of the suppression of the Nasdaq index so that the Nasdaq can once again break through the 4,000-point mark before November 3.
New technology, the Internet, is also Clinton's main political achievement since he came to power.
The two parties had an agreement at the beginning of the year.
In order to increase the support of the Democratic Party, Simon promised to allow the Nasdaq to reach around 4,000 points before the end of 1998.
Now it is equivalent to hoping that this number will be brought forward two months.
After Simon thought about it, he agreed.
In fact, it was really overwhelming.
You know, Simon and Clinton reached a tacit understanding in March at the beginning of the year. At that time, the Nasdaq had once again exceeded 3,600 points, which was not far from 4,000 points.
In order to prevent the new technology market from falling into a premature feverish state again, Simon also launched a round of shareholding reduction plan again. As of October, it had recovered US$13 billion in funds through several shareholding reductions in half a year, and at the same time suppressed the stock price to a certain extent. The Nasdaq's rapid rise.
But only to a certain extent.
Simon can feel that after the Asian financial crisis, the new technology market, which originally collapsed three years in advance, began to recover in just one year. In addition, a large amount of overseas funds hit by the financial crisis poured into the United States for safe haven and the Federal Reserve Another easing cycle has begun, and the Nasdaq index has returned to its previous trajectory.
Moreover, compared with the Internet in the 1990s, which only had concepts and no performance, this time, the Westeros system has single-handedly laid a solid foundation for this industry in advance. The fundamentals continue to develop and become more and more solid. It is conceivable that if no accidents occur, this Nasdaq bull market cycle will last longer.
Therefore, the key this time should be whether a big accident will happen again.
In any case, on October 19, when Daenerys Entertainment released its full-year financial report for fiscal year 1998, coupled with the positive stimulation of another fiscal surplus year in the United States last Friday after 29 years, the U.S. stock market rose sharply across the board. The Nasdaq index had reached 3937 points at the close of the day. In the following days, not only did it not fall back and adjust, but it easily exceeded the 4000 point mark after Simon gave up his suppression.
As a result, it became a performance highlight that the Democratic camp once again hyped.
New York.
At a golf course in Huntington, northwest Long Island.
The time came to October 24th before we knew it.
Saturday.
Simon came to the East Coast yesterday. In addition to his routine work, today he was invited to play golf with Jack Welch, the head of General Electric. The main reason was that Welch wanted to communicate with Simon in person about some recent events. Daenerys' upcoming DHO cable station, TV broadcast rights ownership of the DC Cinematic Universe, and Blockbuster.
After acquiring Time Warner and integrating NBC assets, GE is actually the second largest media and entertainment giant in the world. Media and entertainment has also entered GE's main business, and it is no longer the marginal side business of NBC before.
Therefore, Jack Welch is very concerned about this part of the business and personally handles many things.
Faced with Welch's inquiry, Simon's attitude was also very clear.
DHO is definitely on board. Cable TV is the future of the federal television field. The market size of paid cable stations is also growing. It is impossible for Daenerys Entertainment to give up this part of the business. Moreover, it is obvious that after DHO is launched, Daenerys will definitely reduce the content authorization to HBO. This is a matter of course, and anyone who puts it will do so.
As for the TV broadcast rights of DC movie projects, Simon did not force it. As usual, it will be done according to the contract.
Daenerys will not maliciously raise the price in order to win the TV broadcast rights of DC movies. However, compared to the past, if HBO wants to obtain the broadcast rights, it will definitely have to increase its offer appropriately. Otherwise, DHO will definitely take action.
In short, the next step for both sides is to rely on their own abilities.
Let’s talk about Blockbuster. Simon’s acquisition of this company is mainly to further develop online rentals and future streaming media. He has no intention of maliciously monopolizing the market. The key is to see whether other competitors can do their best.
These were all expected, and Jack Welch didn't say much. He just hoped that Simon would keep his promise and provide everyone with a relatively fair playing field.
In fact, Welch has never forgotten Simon's original intention to take over General Electric.
Welch, 63, has planned to retire in 2001 after his current term. Welch has devoted his whole life to GM. The most important thing he has done in recent years is to select the next leader of GM. If everything else is put aside, from a pure corporate development perspective, Simon is undoubtedly the leader. A perfect person to take over.
It's a pity that this matter is not realistic after all.
The current scale of the Westeros system is too huge, so huge that many people feel oppressive and fearful. If General Electric, an industrial giant that can be called a federal artifact to control the country, is handed over to the other party, Simon Westeros It's probably not that far away from becoming the de facto king of the United States.
Therefore, Welch has been trying to forget about it and pretend that Westeros has never spoken about it.
Simon didn’t mention it again.
Although Westeros has always maintained its position as the largest shareholder holding more than 5% of GE's shares, there is plenty of time to wait for Welch, who has too much prestige, to step down.
The two sides talked about some serious matters, and the topic inevitably turned to the most lively issue of recent midterm elections.
Seeing Simon hit a ball, Welch, as a master, saw the white ball flying out crookedly. He wanted to compliment or even comfort but couldn't find the direction. He could only ignore it and said: "Simon, maybe you already know, about This year's "Forbes" list of America's 400 richest people, hehe, was originally supposed to be released this month, but in order to avoid the mid-term elections, it was moved to next month."
Simon carried the club and walked to the next hitting point with Welch, smiling and said: "You know, I personally said hello to Steve Forbes."
Welch was a little surprised.
Simon smiled: "The Forbes family supports the Republican Party. If the Democratic Party wants to challenge them, Steve Forbes will definitely not listen."
Only then did Welch come to his senses and said with a smile: "Speaking of which, I support the Republican Party."
"It is an individual's freedom to support which party, even within the Westeros system, I will not impose any restrictions on this," Simon said freely: "After all, everyone is for a common ideal, to make this country better Some."
"You're right," Welch obviously agreed. He nodded and asked, "What do you think of this annual financial surplus?"
"There are many aspects. The economic improvement is one reason, but it is not the main reason." Facing Welch, Simon would not use the clichés used in the media to whitewash the Democratic Party's governance achievements. "No surprise, maybe There will be a surplus for another year or two, but after that, deficits are inevitable."
"Yes, after leaving the gold standard, it is too easy to print money, and it is inevitable that the federal government will run into long-term deficits." Welch nodded and then shook his head: "I occasionally wonder whether this matter will be like a drug addiction. It gets worse later on. If an individual carries debt for a long time, the result will only be bankruptcy. In fact, the same is true for the country, and once the country goes bankrupt, the collapse will only be more tragic."
"Unless we return to the gold standard immediately, or actively give up the global currency attribute of the US dollar, otherwise..." Simon shrugged: "Such an outcome is basically unavoidable."
When Welch heard what Simon said, he couldn't help but stop: "Simon, as the richest man in the Federation, you wouldn't want to see this happen, right?"
"The thing is, Jack, I'm pessimistic about human nature and pessimistic about the world."
Welch couldn't help but smile bitterly: "So, when you implement the 3G plan, you even want to escape from this planet at some of the most pessimistic moments, right?"
"Yes, it's not entirely right," Simon said: "People are selfish, and so am I. So, if one day comes, I hope that myself, or my descendants, can avoid it. Furthermore, although I am The world is very pessimistic, but I can also see that with the continuous progress of human society, from the Stone Age, the Bronze Age, the Iron Age until now, the industrial age, and the information age, the level of civilization has indeed continued to improve. Therefore, I hope that through The 3G plan creates a possibility that will bring human society into the next era of civilization."
Welch listened carefully to Simon's words, nodded slightly, and inexplicably thought of the expectations of the young people around him.
If... all of this is true, perhaps handing GE over to the other party is the most correct choice.
Thinking like this, he unknowingly reached the next hitting point. Welch always had a strict attitude towards golf, so he put aside his previous thoughts, judged the terrain, looked for the angle, and swung the ball.
Simon has actually explained his philosophy to many people. Of course, it is not for Welch to ask others to hand over GE to him. He just hopes to be recognized, at least when he implements some plans, these people are in the same pyramid. The elites at the top will not hold them back, that is enough.
Obviously, Welch was deeply touched by Simon's words. The legendary CEO no longer dwelled on the mid-term elections, and spent the rest of the time discussing more details of the 3G plan with Simon and his future prospects for the development of human technology.
In this way, until the evening, when the two parties separated, Welch also made it clear that GE would cooperate with the Westeros system to the greatest extent on projects such as nuclear fusion research and the development of the next generation space shuttle. To this end, he also proactively asked Simon to send a team. The two parties further discussed the details of cooperation.
Of course Simon would not refuse.
Saying goodbye to Welch, Simon did not go to the recently renovated manor in Huntington, or for some psychological reason, but rushed to a property in the nearby city of Glen Cove.
It has been arranged in advance.
When Simon arrived, the housekeeper Angora Davis was already there to welcome her. In addition, there were the group of Korean girls who had been left unknowingly by Simon for more than a month, eight carefully selected girls from the girl group, and the matching sixteen girls. There are two Korean Wei family maids and guards, all of whom are pleasing to the eye and around 80 points.
If the housekeeper hadn't mentioned it last night, Simon would have really forgotten about it.
Since I mentioned it, I happened to have no other plans tonight, so I just enjoyed it.
Simon got off the car at the small square in front of the main villa and greeted the housekeeper. When he saw the Korean girl with a delicate face and figure who was following Angre, he asked as he walked towards the villa: "What's your name?"
The girl followed Simon step by step, bowing slightly as she walked, which made Simon a little surprised and said in quite standard Chinese: "Jin Somin, Mr. Westeros, my name is Jin Somin."