[Chapter 763: Who Decides the Price]
Many people believed that the primary factor determining the price of goods was simply the supply and demand relationship. This notion held some truth, as the market often followed this pattern.
However, when it came to bulk commodities, this principle became less relevant. Many claimed that the oil crisis led to the collapse of the Bretton Woods system. With desert tycoons walking away with vast amounts of gold, the United States found it challenging to maintain the dollar's value.
In fact, according to information held by William White, this claim was utterly ridiculous. At a secret meeting in 1973, Walter Levy proposed a significant plan. He argued that if oil prices surged by 400%, it could save the dollar from imminent collapse.
Clearly, the members of the Bilderberg Meeting supported this proposal. Subsequent events demonstrated that everything occurring in the desert had the footprints of the CIA. Thus, the so-called invisible hand manipulating the market was not entirely accurate. This hand had always been there; it was just that most people were unaware of it.
...
"Paul, is there a possibility of an increase in the prices of oil and gold?"
Paul Volcker glanced at his successor, utterly speechless. These elements were part of an established strategy. The European Union had already formed, and in a few years, the euro would emerge. What could he possibly say now that the question was raised?
"Alan, is there pressure from Morgan Stanley and Citigroup?"
"Yes, Morgan Stanley was mainly concerned about gold prices. Citigroup had a broader range of issues to consider," Greenspan replied with a grimace. Adding Rockefeller into the mix, he had already fielded several inquiries at this point.
"Alan, Warren Buffett is quite impressive; you should take a look at his investment principles. He avoids industries he isn't familiar with. William White is a powerhouse in the investment game; yet, investing in oil and mining hasn't paid off for him either. Operating across industries isn't as simple as it seems. They cannot compete in the media industry, and now they're considering invading the IT sector. Alan, maybe it's best to advise them to stick to what they know."
Raising the price of oil reduced the demand for gold in the market. These measures were preparations for the eurozone. Compared to your petty disputes, their primary concern was how to bury Old Europe.
As for William White, well, it baffled many why they couldn't simply sit down and talk. Couldn't these fools see that the kid wasn't opposed to sharing the wealth?
"Yeah, Paul, those fools at Citigroup really are a lost cause. I've seen Cisco's stock options, and honestly, I considered going to work for them."
"Heh, sensitive companies inevitably end up going public. A thirty-year-old could understand that while an old group was still lost in delusions. Oh, and regarding those shady dealings, there must not be a repeat of them."
The gaming and comic companies had already become a global laughingstock. Did they plan on doing it all over again?
What William White didn't realize was that his casual counterattack had indeed put some individuals in a very awkward position. Put simply, he had no right to breach the rules.
In a world where chaos reigned, the wealthiest were often the most unfortunate victims. Who do you think would despise a reshuffling? Certainly not those struggling to get by.
Such obvious reasoning should have been clear to those older folks. The temptation was simply too great.
...
"Master, we have found those hackers, and they are willing to work."
"Good, send them to the Bahamas. If those guys aren't interested, let them dig coal."
"Heh, these guys have some talent; they'll be suitable for testing the firewall."
"Every challenge brings a new adversary. By the way, if these guys need anything, try to accommodate their requests."
"Sure, they're not too picky but a bit shabby."
"Tanner, your world is colorful, a mix of emotion and reason. Their world is just zeros and ones. Think about it; no matter how beautiful a woman is, once she's reduced to numbers, isn't she just as flawed?"
"Then forget it; I still prefer the real world."
William White wasn't aiming to attack any websites; that held little significance to him. However, the inclusion of these individuals could improve his company's firewall.
Conflict arose from such contradictions. Only by finding the sharpest spear could one truly gauge the effectiveness of their shield.
"By the way, Tanner, the CIA's idiots haven't responded, right?"
"No, their system crashed. This time the blame is significant; I'm not sure who should take it."
"Heh, it's quite ironic that those hired have knocked their system offline."
...
Some questioned just how difficult William White could be. Didn't those guys already know what they were getting into? Knowing the risks speaks volumes about their audacity.
Heh, that hand guiding them was no god. They had many beneficiaries who were typically unhelpful. Once there was a demand, however, they'd be able to find something suitable without delay.
Whether it was Clinton or Blair, weren't they both nameless before they rose to prominence? Remember, both were members of the Bilderberg Meeting long before their time in the limelight.
The old-money families scorned the nouveau riche for a reason. The significance of connections and foundations wasn't something to be casually dismissed. Their family legacies weren't comparable to the greenbacks.
This was something William White couldn't learn. He simply didn't have the time. If things went awry, he could easily fall into despair.
Of course, William White had his own resources. If he couldn't reason with them, he could still throw a punch. There's a saying: if a gangster knows martial arts, no one can stop him.
"Filson, has the chaos settled down?"
Filson forced a smile; closing in on the year's end, he could certainly stir up trouble.
"Sir, aside from financial stocks, there's not much volatility in the securities market. Oil prices remain below twenty. It seems that even a strong U.S. economy can't support higher oil prices."
"Heh, Filson, do you believe that if demand doubled, oil prices would still struggle to perform?"
"Sir, that's clearly unreasonable. There's no sign of market manipulation in the futures market."
"The tycoons need to repay their debts. The profits from the oil crisis must now be returned.
Sigh, my investments were indeed premature, but it's a non-renewable resource; its price will eventually rebound."
"Sir, the Russians are already down and out. They don't need to keep pushing, do they?"
Filson understood the intentional suppression of oil prices. Did the White Oil Company not know about production cuts? OPEC members were undoubtedly aware of it as well.
Taxing in the name of environmentalism could be dramatic; hiking oil prices by 15% wouldn't really impact the real economy.
In Europe, taxing oil by three bucks per barrel raised no objections from end-users. Thus, when oil prices increased by three dollars, their profit margins remained intact.
Unfortunately, while users could accept higher oil prices, the prices simply wouldn't budge.
Look, economic principles failed yet again. The price users were willing to pay couldn't determine the final price of oil.
Supply relationships couldn't dictate it, nor could theories of surplus value explain it either. The final pricing power lay with the old codgers hiding in the background.
As for why William White chose to act now, well, it was because those old guards made that decision. If you tried to seize the moment to control the situation, that was essentially a death wish.
*****
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