America’s Road To Wealth

  Chapter 349 California Consortium

  For the East Coast and Southwest of the United States.

  The west coast of the United States is a laggard.

  It was not really developed until the middle and late twentieth century. It was not until this century that it became one of the new economic centers of the United States.

   At the beginning of the last century, it was regarded as the wild land of America.

  Even Hollywood, in the beginning, was the film dealers on the East Coast at that time, in order to escape Edison's patent pursuit.

  Deliberately rushed to a remote place to develop, and then formed a film gathering place.

  California developed earlier, not Los Angeles, but San Francisco.

  Compared to Los Angeles, San Francisco's climate and geographical conditions are even better.

  West Coast local time, at two o'clock in the afternoon.

  Abel's "Smith" Boeing 747 landed at San Francisco International Airport.

   Shortly after the roar of the engines shut down, Neil Bush and Abel disembarked from the plane.

  Abel's father-in-law came to San Francisco last month.

  As soon as he came over, he was appointed as the executive director of Pacific Energy Company.

  The responsible work direction is to communicate with more than 21,000 workers of Pacific Energy Company.

  His other identity is the executive director of California Pacific Electric.

  The task of this company, like Pacific Energy, is to communicate with workers.

  The difference is that California Pacific Electric has more workers, about 26,500.

  In addition, he also obtained the status of independent director of General Electric, independent director of Microsoft, and independent director of Google.

  Executive directors and independent directors are generally members of the company's board of directors.

  The difference between the two is that executive directors often hold high-level positions in the company.

  As for independent directors, generally they are not directly responsible for the company's affairs, and at most they only have a monitoring role.

  That is to say, independent directors are often honorary positions and supervisor positions.

  Executive director is the real power in the board of directors.

   "Are you sure you're really going to my date tonight?"

   On the VIP channel leaving the airport.

  Neil Shrub confirmed to his son-in-law again.

  Abel smiled and nodded:

   "It's been agreed, isn't it? And I really want to meet these so-called "worker aristocrats". You know, I have to deal with them sooner or later."

   "That's true." Neil Bush nodded.

  As executive director of Pacific Energy, and California Pacific Electric.

   This evening, Neil Shrub met with the head of the San Francisco AFL-CIO.

   A worker's guild leader named Moss Corso.

   This is also Neil Shrub's main work here recently.

  Moss Corso is a typical "guild noble".

  His grandfather, Kabuda Corso, was a well-known labor union activist in California in the 1960s.

  His father, Daliso Corso, is the current chairman of the California AFL-CIO.

  The 41-year-old Moss Corso himself is the head of the AFL-CIO in the San Francisco area.

   As for the AFL-CIO.

  Its full name is the American Federation of Labor-Confederation of Industry Associations.

  It is the oldest and largest trade union organization in the United States, consisting of 68 trade unions from different industries.

   Its influence even exceeds that of the National Rifle Association.

   The Rifle Association has only about 5 million members.

  The AFL-CIO figure is 13 million.

   It can also be understood that the AFL-CIO is an enhanced version of the National Rifle Association.

  The difference is that the AFL-CIO has its particularity, and it is difficult for the rich and powerful to mix in, otherwise it would be too ridiculous.

   Unlike the NRA, the rich and powerful can easily get in and influence it.

   But is AFL-CIO fair? Are you really dedicated to working for the welfare of the workers?

   Maybe it was true when it was first produced, when it was still progressive.

   However, it has experienced more than 70 years of ups and downs.

   It has already become a semi-bureaucratic monopoly organization with a big tail.

   There is no fundamental difference from those interest groups who have been lobbying endlessly on Capitol Hill for many years.

  The leadership of the guilds that have degenerated into bureaucratic institutions have long since separated from the general guild members themselves and become "worker aristocrats."

   For them, the interests of workers in general are no longer the highest priority.

  The interests of the guild are ranked first.

  The "nobles" can also gain economic and political power from it.

  The AFL-CIO, which has 68 joint unions, is such an existence.

  Moss Corso and his family are part of the nobles who occupy the top of this existence.

  Neil Bush came to California, not to do business and make money.

  The real purpose of his coming here is to get the upper hand.

  His main task here naturally becomes the work of contacting this kind of person.

  This is Abel’s Smith think tank, and their own think tank on the side of the Bush family, giving advice to Neil Shrub.

   According to this suggested route, some people have successfully gone through it more than 30 years ago.

   This man's name is John Fitzgerald Kennedy.

  He is the youngest general in the history of the United States, a gentleman who is good at brainstorming.

  When he was young, he was mainly in charge of the family's internal business, and the work of cooperating with union organizations such as the AFL-CIO.

   During his ascension, organizations such as the AFL-CIO provided great support.

  After he took office, he himself gave a lot back to these organizations. It can be said that he is the most guild-friendly leader in the entire history of the United States.

  With this successful example ahead, Neil Shrub can naturally follow this path.

   It's been a month since he came here. Neil Shush's ability is not weak, and he has a high starting platform.

  With so many directorships of super large groups, he easily hooked up with these American working aristocrats.

   Like this Moss Corso and he became a good "friend".

   He had just returned from Texas when Mos Corso invited him to meet for dinner.

  As for Abel, he offered to go as well. Neil knew that this was a good son-in-law who wanted to stand up for him.

  Worker aristocrats are not workers, they are rich as well, or should they be called workers rich?

  Since he is a rich man, the richest man in the world stands behind him. These rich workers must be more friendly to themselves.

  The son-in-law and his son-in-law were also there that night.

  Meet Mos Corso at a fancy restaurant in San Francisco.

  It was different from Neil's previous meeting with Moss Corso.

   During this meeting, Neil was surprised to see that Moss' father, Daliso Corso, director of the California AFL-CIO, was also among them.

   This made Neil subconsciously look at the smiling Abel next to him.

  He knew that Daliso Corso would appear, and it was most likely related to his good son-in-law.

   "Hi! Good evening, my friend." Neil called Moss enthusiastically.

  Moss also stood up from his seat, walked outside with a smile, and came over to hug Neil.

   "My friend, it is so good to see you again."

  Behind Neil, Abel smiled faintly.

  Behind Moss, his old father also had a friendly smile on his face.

  If there is a reporter or something at this time, take a picture of this scene by the side. A few years later, when Neil takes office in California, he will release the photos.

  As long as there is a backer who can withstand being revoked, not being killed in a car accident, or committing suicide with eight shots in the back.

  The reporter who filmed this scene has a high probability of being selected for the Pulitzer Prize.

  What a classic scene, it expresses the concept of "American rule" very vividly.

   After the two "good friends" have hugged, the rest is naturally the real dinner.

  Abel stepped forward, and Daliso Corso, who was in the seat, also came out.

  After some greetings and introductions, everyone became "good friends" and then took their seats.

   “The weather and climate in San Francisco is so good. New York is terrible by comparison.”

Abel looked at the father and son with a smile, "It's not December yet. The temperature in New York is almost below zero, and you have to wear thick clothes when you go out. But here... look, everyone is still wearing shirts, company commander There are no sleeves!"

   "Hahaha~" Daliso Corso said with a smile, "Who can say otherwise? That's what makes the Bay Area so good, it's a real paradise."

  Daliso Corso is about sixty years old, in a suit and leather shoes, he looks like a big businessman and rich man.

  Such a man with a lot of money is the chief representative of California workers.

   It can only be said that this is the characteristic of capitalist countries!

   Both sides enjoyed the meal quite happily.

   There is no talk about work, nor about interests.

   These things, they are not suitable for discussion on the table at this time.

  When you really need to use these things.

  As long as the real interests are in place, the support of the Corso father and son will also be in place.

  Everyone is just deepening the connection and promoting the connections between the two parties.

   is the necessary social interaction before cooperation.

   About an hour later, Abel and Neil left the restaurant.

   "How do you feel?"

   After getting into the car, he looked at the handsome son-in-law who got in.

  Neil Bush asked with a smile.

   "Too tired. I feel more tiring than negotiating with Soros." Abel shrugged.

  Neil Bush laughed.

   Compared with many times, business negotiations can be straightforward.

  Contacts and exchanges with the political side will of course appear a lot hypocritical. Since you want to be hypocritical, of course it will consume more brainpower.

   It is necessary to try to guess the other party's true intentions through facial expressions, actions, tone of voice, and the content of the speech.

  Compared with business negotiations, of course this will be much more tiring.

   But isn’t this the charm of Masaharu?

  Neil Bush thinks so anyway.

  Abel's father-in-law said with a smile: "Leave the tiring things to me. You can do the easy things."

   Abel smiled and shook his head lightly, then said seriously:

   "The first step seems to have been successful. Now let's look at your other work, Neil."

   "Of course!" Neil Bush was very confident, "I have sufficient experience in dealing with energy workers! I am very confident in this aspect. As for other aspects, I need your help."

  The shrub family's business is mostly in energy, especially the oil industry.

  This industry also has a large number of industrial workers.

  Neil was in charge of the work of the family before, so he is quite experienced.

   Pacific Energy and California Pacific Electric are also in the energy industry, but they are somewhat similar.

  According to the opinion given by the think tank, what Neil had to do at the beginning was to deal with the industrial workers and energy workers here as much as possible.

  We must try our best to gain their favor, and let them cast their precious votes when Neil needs them.

  Abel nodded lightly, "For us, Silicon Valley is not a big problem."

  Abel has invested in so many IT, semiconductor, and Internet companies, in addition to eating their future growth.

  He is also strengthening his influence in these areas.

  "Workers" in these fields also have a large number of votes in their hands.

   Their voices are relatively loud and can easily influence voters.

  Internet plus media is the voice of modern industrial countries.

   "However, in order to ensure stability, I will contact California next." Abel said to Neil.

  Neil nodded, knowing what his son-in-law said about "California".

   That obviously wouldn't refer specifically to the state of California.

   "California" in Abel's mouth.

  It refers to a consortium similar to Texas, mainly in San Francisco, and its influence spreads throughout California, and even the California consortium on the west coast!

The California Consortium is one of the top ten consortiums in the United States. It owns major commercial banks such as Bank of America, Western Bank Corporation, Safety Pacific Corporation, and companies such as Wells Fargo and Crocker National in the San Francisco area. It is a rising in the United States after World War II. Emerging consortia.

  The consortium includes Bank of America Group, San Francisco Group and Los Angeles Group.

  The economic strength of these three groups increased dramatically during World War II with the rapid development of the military industry in California.

  In particular, the growth rate of financial capital is particularly astonishing, forming a large consortium with the Bank of America as its financial center.

  As early as 1974, more than 20 years ago, this huge consortium already had assets of 167.1 billion US dollars.

   In terms of volume, it ranks third among the top ten consortiums in the United States.

  It and the Texas consortium form a new arms industry group power, becoming a force to compete with the old consortium in the Northeast.

   Simply put, it is an enhanced version of the Texas consortium that has no financial flaws.

  The two sides together represent more than 70% of the power of the "industrials" in the US military-industrial complex.

  The difference is that Texas, as the core of the South, still had some influence in political governance.

   Dixie guy was also very famous back then.

  The California consortium is richer, but before modern times, the West Coast was a remote area of ​​the United States.

   It is only now that its political influence is getting stronger and stronger. Twenty years ago, the California consortium was a consortium with money and industry but little influence in the country.

   That is, at that time, there was too little right to speak in this area, and the stronger California consortium would choose to cooperate with the Texas consortium.

  Everyone fights against the traditional East Coast, mainly those ancient consortiums in the Great Lakes region.

  Herbert will support Neil to develop here, and there are probably some reasons for this.

  Because of the California consortium, they have always had a good relationship with Texas.

   "So what are you going to do?"

  Looking at his handsome son-in-law, Neil Bush became more and more satisfied with Abel.

   Seriously, if it wasn't for Abel.

  Neil felt that in his life, he could really only be the economic steward of the shrubs.

   It happened to be his talent in this area, which was obviously inferior to his younger brother Marvin.

  The investment field that Ma Wen is in charge of is more profitable than the one he is in charge of all the year round.

  And the child of the bush, it is impossible to say that he does not want to be righteous.

   It's just that the old father made such an arrangement.

  And from a reality point of view, this arrangement is the most appropriate and beneficial for Neil himself and the family.

   Due to reality, Neil Shrub had no choice but to obey this arrangement.

  It is the appearance of Abel and the help brought by his combination with little Laura.

   only freed himself from this fate, and Neil had a deep understanding of this.

  This made the old father-in-law simply ignore Abel's "reckless behavior" in a certain way.

   "I have a good relationship with Wells Fargo," Abe said. "I'm going to talk to John Stumpf."

   After Abel's showdown to Wall Street last year.

  In the financial market, Smith Capital’s main source of funds for doing things has changed from the original big investment banks to Pacific Bank of Commerce, Wells Fargo and First Citibank.

   Pacific Commercial Bank is Abel's own bank.

  So in fact, Abel's real external sources of funding are Wells Fargo and Citibank.

  From last year to the present, the two banks have at least made hundreds of millions of dollars in profits from Abel.

   Mainly interest and handling fees.

   Especially when it comes to the NOK incident.

  In two months, Wells Fargo earned at least $134 million from Smith Capital.

  Whether it is from the point of view of profit or future money situation.

  Abel and Smith Capital are both super VIP clients of these two banks.

  Ordinary bank tellers will have a very good attitude towards big customers who come to make deposits.

  It’s actually the same if you switch to a bank executive, but the threshold for their attitude needs to be higher.

  Like the senior executives of the four major banks in China, if you want them to have a good attitude, you must have a deposit of hundreds of billions.

   But if it is specific to the branch president of a certain small city, a few hundred million deposits can make the president treat you as his best friend.

   By the same token, Abel can make money for these two banks.

  John Stumpf, the chairman and CEO of Wells Fargo, is of course friendly to Abel.

  Wells Fargo is one of the core of the California consortium.

  Abel's idea is very simple, that is to contact the California consortium through Wells Fargo.

   See if we can cooperate with them to strengthen the relationship between Smith Capital and this consortium.

  In contrast, Neil's affairs here are secondary.

   After all, if Abel can have a good relationship with the California consortium.

   It will not be very difficult for them to help with Nanier's matter.

  Conversely, if the relationship between Abel and the California consortium is not good.

  With the relationship between Neil and Abel, it is impossible to ask the California consortium to help.

   "John Stumpf?" Neil nodded, "It is indeed a good channel. But if needed, I have Jerry Brown's contact information. I also know a few people from the Wilson family."

   How could Neil, who mainly lives in Texas, have contacts in this area.

   These contacts are actually mainly given to him by George and Herbert.

  Herbert served as the party whip for a period of time.

   "Let me talk to John Stumpf first."

   said Abel.

  Neil nodded and stopped talking. In this regard, he also felt that it would be better for Abel to lead.

   After all, it doesn't matter whether it is the Brown family or the Wilson family.

   They are actually one of the members of the California consortium.

   Can get the help of the California consortium, it is just as easy to ask these two families to help.

  The same is true in reverse.

   The son-in-law and the son-in-law left the restaurant, but they lived in different places.

  Neil Shush lives here in the property of the Shush family, a villa located in San Francisco.

  Abel has a lot of luxury houses here to live in. For New Start Real Estate, California is the state with the most investment in the United States.

  Who said that this area will become the fastest and most stable area in the United States in the next few years.

  The son-in-law and the son-in-law separated and went to rest.

  (end of this chapter)