[Chapter 889: Entertainment to Death]
With the internet media having no limits, how could one expect it to hold any credibility? After going in circles, one would find that traditional media platforms were still somewhat reliable.
In any case, it didn't matter if one was bored; they could indulge in novels. As for the content, it was best not to take it too seriously.
At the White Center in San Francisco, it was buzzing with activity today. A quick glance revealed nothing but elites.
"George, you're a pretty successful guy now, right?"
"I guess so. Today is quite the event; I just saw Alan Greenspan. What do you think? Should I help you chat him up?"
"Why? It's not like I have any issues with him; I really respect him as an economist. Look, whenever I get stumped, I send the reporters to him."
Little Bush could only shake his head and laugh. Come on, are you passing the buck? You never think of him when you have good news.
"Hey, George, the Iron Lady is here too! This party must be high-level; I'm curious, who has such clout?"
"Ha, you're here too, aren't you?"
William White couldn't help but smile when he saw the meeting's agenda.
The wealth gap?
In reality, since the early '90s, the distribution of wealth and social resources had undergone a severe shift. Simply put, a small group of so-called elites possessed most of the world's wealth.
Strictly speaking, there was no need to discuss this; just go back and read Das Kapital. From theory to practice, it was all clearly laid out.
This situation was pretty much irreversible. Unless a Second World War broke out again, the poor would always remain poor, and it was unlikely they could change their life trajectory.
Don't even mention the so-called American dream in Silicon Valley. If these folks didn't have Ivy League credentials, there wasn't a chance in hell of achieving any dreams.
How did you manage to fool those poor folks back then?
After turning 18, they were told to support themselves, which made college seem pointless. If they really loved studying, they should just earn their tuition.
When that elite crowd promoted such ideas, they should have been asked whether their kids were in college.
"Zbigniew Brzezinski? Haha, why on earth is that guy here?"
"What? You know this guy, William?" Little Bush asked curiously. Brzezinski mostly made headlines in Washington D.C., and an economist and foreign policy advisor wouldn't usually catch William White's attention.
"This guy is impressive. By the way, he's associated with the Rockefeller family. Do you think I should take him seriously?"
"Are you sure? Isn't he one of Carter's advisors?"
"Ask your old man when you get home; he'd know better."
Little Bush nodded slightly. Since William White didn't say more, that meant Brzezinski was likely someone important. When the Iron Lady spoke, he didn't seem to show much respect either.
Brzezinski's speech was quite entertaining. To summarize, there were just too many poor folks now, and this was not a stable social form.
This was true in America and in most countries around the world. The kind of olive-shaped society that sociologists dreamt of was utterly unattainable.
Of course, it wasn't a pyramid structure either; if the vested interest groups were too few, then the social structure would become even more dangerous.
Twenty percent of the people controlled the majority of the world's wealth; as far as America was concerned, that was the current state.
So, there was no need for you to say that; the five to six hundred people in the room likely already knew. If this was all you could handle, you might as well wash up and go to bed.
What's the solution?
Yes, that was the main course for today.
Give them pleasure, and let them spend more time entertaining themselves.
Entertainment dramas, idol dramas, soap operas, and all sorts of reality shows. In short, the idea was to make those poor folks happy.
The standards for comics had to be lowered, and games shouldn't be too bland. Oh, and those special action films, the kind that could be acted out by just two or three people, needed a hefty boost.
William White's face turned dark. Damn it, would he end up on the shame pole in a few years?
Damn it, comics, entertainment, games--everything except those action films was included.
Well, William White sighed deeply. Brzezinski could say this because he was an expert. William White could not. Some things one could do but definitely shouldn't say out loud.
Did you know what would happen to society over time if it continued down this path?
People would become disillusioned, obsessed with pleasure, lost in dreams, and neglectful of their responsibilities. As long as they had a job and a bit of income, they would be very happy.
"William, isn't what he said just what you're already doing?"
William White shot this guy a look. Come on, if you can't speak, just don't.
That was his thought, not mine. In William White's view, without an upward channel for advancement, this society would remain unstable.
"His ideas are too extreme; he's read too much success theory. Our society is pluralistic, and not everyone is foolish.
How should I say it? When you first swung the mighty arm, didn't you feel a bit disheartened afterward?
There's no need to feel ashamed. Sitting in front of the TV wasting life is unscientific and meaningless. Sooner or later, they would feel something was off.
There should always be hope; if hope is lost, how could there be continued happiness?"
When it came time for William White to deliver his speech, well, the prepared manuscript was no longer usable. He was a public figure, not exactly an expert, and even if he thought Brzezinski's points made sense, he had to take the opposite view in this setting.
Damn it, the roots of entertainment to death lie within this old fool's views. But do you know what would happen if there were another world-class war? How would we face that?
Stars?
"The imperial examination system? What is that?"
"Warren, I'm not sure; it's kind of like the SAT, I guess."
Buffett couldn't answer Gates's question. He felt a bit lost himself, struggling to understand how one person's knowledge could rise to such a level.
Regarding Brzezinski's speech, William White refrained from making any direct comments. He told the crowd of elites that the rabbit nation had faced this problem thousands of years ago, overcoming it with the imperial examination system.
It was crucial to have pathways between classes be unobstructed. Only then could the poor have hope. Only then could they find so-called happiness.
William White supported more entertainment programs. However, that came with preconditions. If the poor had no hope, how could one expect them to work hard?
As for what others had to say, it was hard to say, but both Steve Jobs and Larry Ellison clearly preferred to side with William White's perspective.
Everyone belonged to different classes. They certainly weren't born with a golden key in their mouths, and if there was no hope of success through hard work, then happiness was just laundry detergent; it was all mere colorful bubbles.
Of course, Buffett and Brzezinski, those old foxes, didn't agree. William White's words were just to polish his image.
What the audience thought mattered little to William White. He just needed to express his meaning. In this setting, everyone seemed more willing to believe Brzezinski's version.
The bottom line dictated the mind. It was that simple. While William White's words sounded good, why should they provide opportunities to those poor folks?
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