Rebirth of America, this is my era

Chapter 208: The Entrepreneurial Methods of the Top Second Generation

"Today, President Jimmy went to Niagara Falls, where he listened to the latest report on the pollution incident at the Love Canal from the special personnel of the New York State Department of Health..."

"The New York State Department of Health Commissioner is convinced that the toxic chemicals in the area will have a significant impact on the local ecological environment and the safety of residents. This impact cannot be resolved by local departments. We hope that the federal government can lend a hand and provide assistance to save local residents and children..."

"After listening to the report from the New York State Department of Health Commissioner, President Jimmy made an emergency speech at the scene, demanding that New York State immediately evacuate local residents and properly resettle them. He also said that after returning to Washington, he would actively mobilize federal funds and order the Federal Disaster Relief Agency to assist New York State in solving the pollution problem. He would also work hard to hold Hooker Chemical accountable. There is no deadline for the entire incident. The President said that as long as he is alive, he will definitely hold Hooker Chemical accountable to the end for the affected residents..."

On the evening of August 2, in a hotel in San Jose, Bill Gates and Paul Allen, who were enjoying dinner in their room, stopped what they were doing and turned their eyes to the TV in the living room.

The two men frowned slightly at the CBS news report, and while waiting for the radio host to say that President Jimmy would hold the perpetrators accountable, they shook their heads almost at the same time.

"How many people live there? If I remember correctly, at least four or five thousand?"

Paul Allen looked away, looked at Bill Gates, and said, "If we pay the maximum compensation, the cost alone will be 70 to 80 million, plus pollution treatment, this matter cannot be completed without several hundred million."

"Fortunately, the responsible party is Hooker Chemical. If it was another small company..."

"Then I guess we can't find anyone."

When Paul Allen was calculating the compensation, Bill Gates kept nodding his head in agreement. But when he said that the good news in the whole incident was that the responsibility could be assigned to someone, Bill Gates smiled and shook his head, saying, "Hooker Chemical sold the company a long time ago, and the shareholders have already sold their shares. Now they belong to Occidental Petroleum. Do you want those people to pay the money?"

"Dream."

"That is, Jimmy is willing to take care of this matter."

"You know, his predecessors simply ignored local reports."

In fact, the pollution incident of Love Canal in Niagara Falls has been exposed for many years, and the cause of the whole incident can even be traced back to the 1990s.

In 1890, a guy named William Love wanted to build a community near Niagara Falls in New York. Since there was no infrastructure in the area and the technology for long-distance power transmission had not yet been developed, he wanted to build a canal with hydroelectric power generation as the main purpose and transportation as the auxiliary purpose to provide a good infrastructure environment for the community on the design.

Initially, financial companies in New York, Chicago and even John Bull were very interested in the project and actively invested money in it. However, with the arrival of the Great Depression in 1893 and the emergence of the Knickerbocker Crisis, all projects here were stopped and auctioned off.

Since the 1920s, this place has become a landfill. In 1942, Hooker Chemical Company began to dump chemical waste into it. In 1947, they bought a 70-foot-wide road on both sides of the canal and transformed it into a garbage town exclusively for their company. In ten years, they dumped nearly 5.8 million US gallons of highly toxic chemicals, including dioxin, into it.

If it was just a normal landfill, it wouldn't matter at all, but when Hooker Chemical discovered that the area had great real estate development prospects, they quickly leveled the land and put it up for sale. It wasn't because they wanted to make money, but because they were afraid of causing a local class action lawsuit and that the local government would ask them to dispose of the chemical waste that would definitely affect the local ecology and water sources. In the end, the land was sold to a local school.

Although the land was sold for only one dollar, the transaction contract contained seventeen exemption clauses. Hooker Chemical used legal documents to shift all responsibility for the chemical leak to the local government and the New York State government. Then, the nightmare began.

When schools were located there, construction of the surrounding communities proceeded rapidly. The construction of houses, the laying of sewers, and the establishment of public facilities caused the leakage of chemical waste that was already hastily handled. Since the 1960s, even the Niagara River has been polluted.

Since the local people were not aware of the real situation, they began to look for the cause. Hooker Chemical, which had been paying attention to the area, knew that something serious had happened, so the shareholders immediately looked for buyers to sell the company. In 1968, Occidental Petroleum, which did not know the reason, officially took over. However, the incident happened two years later. People could already see with their naked eyes that the local water source had turned black.

The investigation officially began at that time, and all the actions of Hooker Chemical were exposed. But unfortunately, no matter whether it was reported to the state government or sought help from the federal government, all the letters sent did not receive the expected response. Everyone was playing dead until the beginning of this year, when a blizzard swept across the East Coast and the significantly increased groundwater level washed out all the buried objects underground.

Then, Commander Jimmy learned about this.

Then he formed an investigation team and sent a specialist to start the investigation.

Although his decision to withdraw and hold people accountable was impressive,...

Bill Gates didn't believe it could be done.

"Do you think Occidental Petroleum will deny this debt?" Paul Allen asked curiously.

"If they were willing to admit their mistakes, their business wouldn't be so big."

Bill Gates nodded and said, "There are former senators on their board of directors. The one named Al Gore from Tennessee is a director of Occidental Petroleum and the general manager of Occidental Petroleum's subsidiary in Tennessee. His son Al Gore is the current member of the Tennessee Congress."

"In addition, they are located in Houston and have a close cooperative relationship with the former CIA director. His son George Jr. seems to have opened an energy company in Texas last year? They haven't drilled a single well in the oil field, but the income has reached millions. Isn't it Occidental Petroleum that pays for the sales that appeared out of thin air? Occidental Petroleum doesn't care whether it can dig up oil or not. They just want to know that if George Jr. makes money, George Sr. will be happy, and that's enough."

"When Occidental Petroleum has people on both sides of the aisle, Jimmy wants to hold them accountable?"

“To be honest, it’s difficult.”

“No one dares to really investigate Occidental Petroleum, so things will only drag on.”

"And if someone really dares to investigate..."

"Then the first thing they need to do is to prepare themselves mentally."

“Be prepared to meet God.”

Bill Gates spread his hands.

"Hahaha--"

Paul Allen was deeply moved by those pragmatic words.

"Old capitalist?"

He smiled and said: "Compared with Western Petroleum, Wall Street's methods are mild."

"Yeah." Bill Gates nodded in agreement. "Ethan Jones isn't under that much pressure right now. After all, those people don't dare to risk their lives with him."

To the general public, Ethan Jones was a lucky pig who soared to fame after just a few years of wasting time after graduating from high school.

Even if he doesn't announce it himself, people will think he is another embodiment of the American dream.

But for an Nth generation like Bill Gates... this is just bullshit, right?
Two years ago, Warner and Philips sued Destiny for defamation, but the case has not been heard to date. Is it possible to just dream of shutting up Warner and Philips?
Later, Fred Terman urged other universities to purchase their arcade machines for teaching purposes. Could ordinary people dare to think of opening up the education market in just a few words?
When your ancestors haven't suffered enough for your family, do you still want to dream of the American dream?

I hope you will be born into a good family in your next life!

Knowing all this, Bill Gates was not surprised at all when he heard the success of the Destiny game in the past two years. And when Steve Ballmer approached him and told him that Ethan Jones wanted to invest in him...

His first reaction was that Ethan was looking for new allies.

After all, his mother is also a Wall Street person.

What ordinary people don't know is that Wall Street is eager to eat Ethan Jones alive.

Bill Gates really doesn't want any investment under such circumstances.

Or rather, before coming here, he even thought Ethan Jones was a little ridiculous.

It's obviously you, Ethan Jones, who couldn't withstand the pressure from Wall Street and wanted to find external help!
And now you want to invest in my company?

Are you crazy or do I look stupid?

If they didn't want to know what project Ethan would give them...

They won't come!
"But his inspiration is really excellent, isn't it?"

Since they were talking about business, Paul Allen had no intention of continuing to eat.

He threw away his knife and fork, folded his elbows around the table, leaned forward slightly, and said, "I always thought that Steven Spielberg's evaluation of Ethan Jones was a bit exaggerated. He said that Ethan Jones could see the future of video games with his eyes closed. This kind of statement sounded like bragging."

"But now I have to admit that what he said makes sense, because once the spreadsheet Ethan mentioned is made, it will definitely make a world sensation!"

“Spreadsheets are truly a tool that can help people solve problems!”

“Spreadsheets are really something that can make people’s lives easier!”

“Even if there may be a certain learning cost behind this!”

"But that's not important, right?"

“Compared to the sustainable convenience of the future, learning now is acceptable.”

"At least for large companies and government departments, this is an excellent innovation."

When Ethan came up with the idea of ​​the spreadsheet, Paul Allen's first reaction was to do something stupid! Because this thing not only creates people's demand for computers, but also brings convenience to mankind.

Paul Allen even felt that as long as they could successfully develop a spreadsheet, they could achieve financial freedom in a very short period of time. This speed might not be comparable to the game of fate that soars into the sky on a rocket, but it would definitely be easy to surpass Apple Computer.

More importantly, they don't have to worry about the software being pirated.

This is because once the software is developed, the first buyers will definitely be large companies and government departments. When the purchaser has a legal entity, it is very easy to hold them accountable.

"This project will help us get out of the predicament of not being able to make money, right?"

Paul Allen raised his eyebrows and looked at Bill Gates with joy.

Listening to those joyful words, Bill Gates sighed, "Ah——"

Then he nodded, "Paul, I know this is a good idea, but..."

"Why doesn't it belong to us?"

Bill Gates leaned back, looking his friend in the eye while playing with the fork in his hand.

At this point, he had already removed the disguise of excitement he had when he first met Ethan.

"If the inspiration was ours, we wouldn't have to pay Ethan Jones."

He looked into the eyes of his friend without any hesitation.

That’s right! When Bill Gates discovered that spreadsheets were becoming popular, his first reaction was to copy them! As for cooperation? Don’t even think about it!

If you, Ethan Jones, haven't made anything yet, how would you know that the inspiration was yours?
You, Ethan Jones, did show us the inspiration of spreadsheets today, but financial spreadsheets are so common! I said I had been studying this a long time ago, and you couldn't find a reason to refute me! If you can keep the money all by just talking hard, why accept the investment? "Is this okay?" Paul Allen's eyes lit up.

"I don't want to share the money." Bill Gates spread his hands.

Such words brought a happy smile to Paul Allen's face, and his eyes flickered wildly under the lenses, as if he was thinking about the feasibility of the idea, but more like he was weighing the amount of benefits.

After a while——

Paul Allen said: "Now everyone knows that Fred Terman will protect them to the death. If we plagiarize, the professors at Stanford Law School will definitely help them fight the lawsuit."

"I have my dad." Bill Gates shrugged and said, "Game of Destiny is in California, and our company is in Washington State. Both places have jurisdiction over the case."

"If they file a lawsuit in California, we will definitely lose, but we can defend and delay it. As long as our software sells well, the final compensation will be just a small amount of money for us."

"If they file a lawsuit in Washington State, it will be our home turf, and with my dad here, even if Stanford takes action, they won't be able to win the case."

"As for filing a federal lawsuit based on interstate tort?"

"This doesn't matter, right?"

"Again, as long as time drags on long enough, even if we lose we'll still win."

Paul Allen nodded at his friend's confidence. Then he continued, "What if you don't sue directly? But use other methods to strangle him? Your family has a lot of businesses. If you really anger Fred Terman, he will launch an all-round attack on your business."

"Even though Ethan Jones is not his grandson, he has done these things for HP before."

"Texas Instruments was hammered by him and lost the government order as a result."

"And the reason why he helped Destiny Game to stop Philips was not only because Philips' previous actions were indeed a bit excessive, but also because Philips has a lot of overlaps with HP's business. In fact, attacking Philips is still helping the people around him, helping his two students."

"I have my mother." This question made Bill Gates laugh and say, "Forget HP. Even if Raytheon and Lockheed come together, what can they do? They are no threat to us at all."

"If it was old-school capitalists like Western Petroleum, I would still worry about their revenge, but the new capital that has only emerged in the last few decades... they don't have the ability to threaten us yet!"

The unabashed words made Paul Allen even happier.

He nodded continuously and said, "Okay, Okay, Okay..."

"That puts me at ease."

In fact, after leaving Palo Alto, Paul Allen was thinking about cooperation. Like Bill Gates, he didn't want to pay for the BASIC interpreter even if he could keep it for himself.

It's just that Ethan Jones has a strong background, so he didn't know how to bring this up.

But now, when Bill Gates took the initiative to say that it was okay to plagiarize and Ethan Jones could not cause any trouble to him at all, Paul Allen finally felt relieved.

"So we refuse?"

"Rejected."

However, just when Bill Gates and Paul Allen were about to leave Ethan behind and go it alone, letting this guy who was the same age as them get a taste of the entrepreneurial methods of America's top second generation, at nine o'clock that evening, Steve Ballmer came to the hotel and knocked on the door of their room.

"Steve, why are you here?"

Bill Gates looked at his old classmate with a strange expression.

Although they had not known each other for a long time and had only spent two years together at Harvard, Bill Gates was still impressed by Steve Ballmer's personal abilities.

When Bill Gates was pulled by Paul Allen to leave Harvard and start a company, he told Steve Ballmer that they must work together if they had the chance in the future.

He thought this would become a reality, but when his friend had already joined the game of fate...

It may be very difficult to get him to change jobs.

In response to Bill Gates' question, Steve Ballmer simply smiled, patted his briefcase, and said, "My boss asked me to deliver the contract to you."

"What contract?" Paul Allen frowned, feeling that something was wrong.

“Investment contract.”

Steve Ballmer opened his briefcase, pulled out a stack of documents and handed them over.

After the two of them read it, the harsh terms made them shake their heads as they were not prepared to accept the investment.

"One million and thirty percent? That's impossible!" Paul Allen said loudly, "No matter how great his inspiration is, it is just inspiration before it is commercially tested!"

"Yes, if he thinks his inspiration is worth money, then he can do it himself."

Bill Gates closed the document he had just scanned and said, "Since Ethan Jones is confident in his project, he can just recruit programmers to write it himself. Why would he look for us?"

"Steve, to be honest, after I came back, William and I discussed it and decided not to accept your boss's investment." Paul Allen handed the documents in his hand back.

Bill Gates also nodded and said apologetically, "Sorry, Steve."

"I know our decision will make all your work these days in vain, but we have clear plans for our future, and Ethan Jones's idea is not part of our plan."

In the eyes of Bill Gates and Paul Allen, their decision would make Steve Ballmer very unhappy. After all, they decided not to accept the investment after listening to Ethan Jones' inspiration. If they wanted to refuse from the beginning, they could just not come.

But for the greater good, they decided to take Steve Ballmer's wrath at this moment.

however……

When they cast an apologetic look at Steve Ballmer, he rubbed his hands awkwardly and said, "William, Paul, why don't you finish reading the contract?"

"Why?" Bill Gates and Paul Allen were a little puzzled.

"Just watch till the end."

Steve Ballmer didn't explain and just told them to do it.

This kind of suspense made the two people very confused, and when they reopened the contract and read it from beginning to end, the investment allocation in the contract made them look up suddenly.

"Ethan doesn't spend a penny and takes 20% based on inspiration?" Bill Gates asked loudly.

"Yes." Steve Ballmer nodded.

"Who owns the remaining 10 percent of the one million?" Paul Allen wanted to know the answer.

As soon as this question came up, Steve Ballmer pulled out another document from his briefcase.

When the two looked up at the cover, the title on the first line made their pupils shrink!

[Memorandum of Understanding between Ethan Jones and Lawrence Rockefeller on joint investment in Microsoft]

"He brought Wenlock in?!!" Paul Allen was speechless for a moment.

"Yes," Steve Ballmer nodded.

“When did this happen?!!!” Bill Gates gasped.

"I just found out about this," Steve Ballmer said. "But according to my boss, Ethan Jones, he contacted Venrock after he decided to invest in you."

"Because they had a relatively smooth cooperation in Apple's investment before, when Wenlock learned that my boss Ethan Jones had found them a project that he would be involved in, they reported the matter to Mr. Lawrence Rockefeller, and then..."

"It is said that Mr. Lawrence Rockefeller is very interested in this new cooperation..."

"pat..."

Paul Allen shook his hand, and the document fell to the ground.

The sound was like the starting gun in a 100-meter race, making Bill Gates turn his head with difficulty.

When he discovered that his childhood friend Paul Allen was also looking at him...

They all saw shock, surprise, horror and helplessness in each other's eyes.

At this moment, they have realized that plagiarizing inspiration is no longer possible.

Because when Lawrence Rockefeller knew about this inspiration, even if Bill Gates' father was awesome and his mother was powerful, he wouldn't be able to copy it!
There's no need to go to court for this. All Lawrence Rockefeller needs to do is call the companies that want to buy their software and tell them that their products infringe on their rights, and they won't buy it!

Moreover, once Lawrence Rockefeller said that the Gates family had stolen his things, their family would be truly disgraced!
'Special!'

Flames flashed in Paul Allen's eyes.

"Special..."

Bill Gates sighed helplessly.

Bill Gates picked up the contract again and stared at it for a long time. Unwilling to give up his excellent idea, he finally nodded.

"Fine--"

"we accept."

Note: ① The Love Canal incident led Jimmy to launch the "Superfund Act", and also let Americans see the traditional skills of capitalists for the first time. ② Some people said earlier that it was too outrageous for both the Donkey and the Elephant to invest, but Occidental Petroleum is the most typical example of playing both sides. Gore in the article is Zipper's deputy, and there is no need to mention the two Georges. Before the millennium, before Gore announced his candidacy, it was revealed that his family held a large number of Occidental Petroleum stocks, and Occidental Petroleum was on the list of George's big sponsors. For Occidental Petroleum, the case in the millennium was a fight between the left and the right. It didn't matter to him who won or lost, anyway, he would win. ③ Gates' personality was taken from Shi An, who started Microsoft. Generally, those who changed the world are in the Inventors Hall of Fame. Even Walt Disney was in for improving the camera. It can only be said that Gates is not an ordinary person.

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(End of this chapter)