[Chapter 646: Market-Driven Changes]
It was the same Compaq computer with the same specifications, but it felt like the computer provided by the hotel was just a bit faster. Steve was frustrated; this vacation paradise seemed more suited for work.
"Laurene, have you noticed? This computer seems faster than the ones at our office," Steve remarked.
His wife shot him a look. Didn't they just get married? Shouldn't they be engaging in some healthy activities instead?
"Steve, that's because of William White's little schemes. When does Lanai Island ever lack for new toys? Everything's fiber-optic connected; every room offers ADSL internet access. Trust me, every IT elite that's been here rants about it when they go back home."
Steve was taken aback but quickly realized something. They say people suffer not from scarcity but from inequity. If Lanai Island has high-speed internet, then White Center and White Plaza must have it too. After experiencing a high-speed connection, who would want to go back to riding in an old clunker?
"If this guy has so much money, why not invest in a telecommunications company? This kind of oppression doesn't work well. I need to have a word with that bastard."
Laurene rolled her eyes. No wonder you chose to vacation here, it's easier to corner William White this way.
"Personal advice, you're better off going after lunch. The food here, while plentiful, isn't very friendly to vegetarians."
Okay, it was true that William White wasn't keen on having lunch with the two of them. If they wanted to act like rabbits, that was on them, but giving him those wistful looks while he devoured a lobster was something else. He had already explained; the lobster he was eating was a casualty of drowning.
"This damn guy has all the world's cuisines available. But the vegetarians are left with no choices."
"Steve, stop complaining. His assistant called, saying there's a vegetarian option at Fortune House, the place that serves dishes that look like meat but are actually vegetarian. We need to make a reservation."
With a heavy sigh, Steve opined that William White was just a foodie. If this foodie wasn't such a glutton, he could really change the world.
...
Over at his table, enjoying a seafood feast, William White hardly had the spare time to think about changing the world.
After having lunch, William said good bye to everyone.
"Athena, take good care of your two younger brothers. Dad's going to meet with Steve."
"Okay, Daddy. Come back soon!"
Looking at his two sons covered in soup, William White sighed; leaving the kids in his care was basically a disaster.
It seemed that wasn't going to work out. Some things had to follow the rules. Ideas about learning joyfully and enjoying a carefree childhood sounded nice, but should never be taken literally. If those two ended up being messy, he wouldn't know what to do.
In the end, that's how the world worked. The wealthy and privileged worked harder than you can imagine. Once that kind of atmosphere took shape, classes would solidify.
Poor?
Well, you could be poor for generations. The resources the wealthy held were beyond your reach. If the wealthy liked to self-destruct, wealth could be redistributed. But if they worked hard, frankly, don't even dream about a comeback.
The most laughable part? These wealthy folks kept feeding the public motivational speeches. Talks about joyful learning or becoming independent after turning eighteen.
Ha! If you really believed that, then you're toast.
Eighteen?
That's just a hint for your kids to skip college. That way, the elite have an even bigger advantage.
As for you peasants, just go become soldiers, or being a mechanic isn't too bad either. If all you folks went to college, who would handle the service industry? Who's going to clean my pool?
That's society for you. It's not that elite motivational speeches can't be consumed; it depends on your capacity to understand. If you take them at face value, congratulations -- you're finished. Although the U.S. doesn't have a caste system, ideals of class exist objectively. Heeding their words, your family will remain at the bottom.
...
"Steve, your worries are quite unnecessary, you know? The installation numbers for ADSL have been higher in the last month than their total before that."
"Really?"
"The real bottleneck now is the backbone network. If these node connections aren't revamped, places like Los Angeles and San Francisco will be fine, but other areas? It's going to be a disaster."
"Looks like that high-performance computing bill is going to progress rapidly. However, the Bush family you support doesn't seem to care. Look at the Donkey; their campaign assistant is that Gore guy. Isn't that bill something he pushed?"
"First off, let me correct you: I don't support the Elephants. Junior Bush is a friend of mine, but not his dad. As for that bill, didn't you notice? It's already outdated."
"What on earth are these guys waiting for?"
"Haha, Steve, haven't you realized? With so much information flowing through networks, if something could be done..."
William White's statement was somewhat vague, but Steve came to understand.
"How dare they? That's illegal."
"Pfft. Steve, are you joking? When have they ever cared about the law? Remember Watergate? You think that's why they want a second supplier? If you control all that tech, how could they ensure security?"
"I was wondering why you'd partner with South Koreans, and now I get it. That's not good; you should prioritize American companies."
"Your thinking is too narrow, Steve. One world, one dream. That's our company motto. I believe the arrival of the internet will shrink the distance between individuals and enhance ties between nations. You shouldn't get bogged down in specifics about origins."
William White tried to defend his position, but clearly, he couldn't persuade Steve. Yet Steve also didn't have the ground to criticize. Weren't they the ones who mocked him when he first entered the semiconductor industry?
As William White and Steve chatted, American telecom companies could no longer sit still. If they didn't lay down a high-speed backbone soon, the ADSL they were installing would end up being a running joke.
Damn, William White had even named it for them -- Regional High-Speed Internet Access Port.
The telecoms were furious. They were also in on the profits, yet here they were, being derided.
*****
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