Chapter 96 Public-Private Partnership
Coubertin got what he wanted. Although $100,000 in sponsorship is a huge sum of money for anyone, it is far from painful for Standard Oil, a company that donates tens of millions of dollars at will. He is not like Sheffield. It is well known that agricultural products accumulate wealth more slowly than industrialization. The Sheffield family has no money, only land.
Can you stop pretending? Annie's face turned red. When it comes to money, how can she not fit the image of a sunny boy? Didn't she say that she didn't even know how much land her family had? Was it a lie that she didn't even blink and took out millions to invest in United Fruit Company?
"Doesn't it cost money to organize a team to participate in the Olympics? Doesn't it cost money to appeal in newspapers in Latin American countries? Doesn't it cost money to set up prize money for competitions? This is just small money, and it will be big money in the future!" Sheffield rubbed Anne's earlobe with his hand, his face full of heartache. Why couldn't his female companion understand his painstaking efforts?
"We need to talk to the federal government and ask them to allocate funds to support this matter." Sheffield said to the Rockefeller siblings, "This is originally a national matter. We, the patriotic civilians, should not be asked to pay for it."
"This is difficult. Next year is an election year. Besides, the economy has been depressed for the past few years and has only stabilized now. The federal government has no money!" Rockefeller Jr. frowned and shook his head. "Nothing is more important than an election. If I were in the government, I would not agree to let the federal government pay attention to a sports event that is being held for the first time next year."
"John is right, and it's unreasonable for the federal government to pay for private participation in sports events." Edith Rockefeller stood beside her brother and said, "There is no reason to do this."
"I just mentioned it casually. Of course the federal government can disagree. If they disagree, I will let the federal government know." Sheffield said calmly, "But since I will be participating in it in my private capacity, I have the final say in everything. All honors have nothing to do with the federal government because they are privately sponsored by me and my partners."
"I don't understand. It's just like when your Rockefeller family gave China millions of kerosene lamps ten years ago and established good relations with them. Although you made the money back after giving the Chinese kerosene lamps, you still received thanks from them because Standard Oil was the largest oil trader." Sheffield mentioned the past of the Rockefeller family.
About ten years ago, Standard Oil Company created a whole new market for itself in China. It gave away millions of cheap oil lamps so that Chinese people could buy and light Standard Oil's kerosene. People called it "the lamp that lit up Asia." In this way, Standard Oil Company gradually expanded the oil market from Europe to Asia and then to the whole world.
To be fair, although the purpose was not pure, Rockefeller's behavior in China was still better than in the United States. In China, Rockefeller's Standard Oil was far from being so conscientious. This operation was just like the conscience of the United States, but it was the only way to do it in this era. American businessmen played this role in the world. They had to be more conscientious than European businessmen, whether they wanted to or not.
The United States is still a dragon slayer now. To become a dragon, Europe must be reduced to ruins and become the undisputed world police economic center. Only then can the mask of hypocrisy be torn off.
If the federal government is not prepared to share the costs, then all the profits will naturally belong to him and Rockefeller Jr., the sponsor. Just because Sheffield is a citizen of the United States, he must not give a share to the country. Capitalists have no motherland, and this matter must be made clear.
Since he had already boarded the pirate ship, Rockefeller Jr. could only express his agreement. In his eyes, Sheffield, as a partner, was much more important than the federal government, which was doing whatever it wanted. Not only did the federal government not provide convenience to large enterprises, it also always used antitrust laws to cause trouble. It was obvious who Rockefeller Jr. favored.
"There is still one year left, which is enough time to select athletes to participate in the Olympics. What's more, we have enough technology in the pharmaceutical industry, so all of this will not be a problem." Rockefeller Jr. felt that there was still early time and it would definitely not be a problem to amaze everyone at the Olympics.
This is exactly the same as Sheffield's judgment. He also thinks so, but compared to Rockefeller's use of medicine, he can use a different method to accomplish all this with a lot of training and practice. Let the most suitable people for track and field participate in track and field, and let the talented people for high jump participate in high jump.
The national system is nothing new. Later republics and Soviets all did this, and it has been proven to be very effective.
A sports system that takes national interests as the highest goal, mobilizes relevant resources and forces across the country, and bears the state funds to configure excellent coaches and hardware and software facilities, and concentrates on selecting, cultivating, and training talented athletes to participate in international sports events such as the Olympics, compete with other countries in competitions, strive for excellent competition results, break records, and win gold medals.
Sheffield thinks that this approach is very suitable for presenting the image of the United States on the international stage in the current environment, just like the Soviet Union after World War II and the Republic after the Cold War. The international environment requires countries to make achievements at a certain level, stabilize the people's hearts and strive for national honor.
The current status of the United States is just like this. Compared with the old imperialist countries in Europe, the United States has no voice and national image. It cannot solve the problem through war. If any one of Britain, France or Germany stands up, the United States will be a younger brother. Not to mention that it still owes Europe billions of dollars in debt.
In essence, if Europe had not been unable to hold on and started to work first, giving the United States a chance to clear its debts, the debt situation of the United States would have been almost the same as the situation of African countries being forced to pay their debts by the World Bank in later generations.
"When an athlete achieves good results, we can use him to contribute to our cause. For example, you can say that this athlete broke through his physical limits and became the fastest man in the world by taking Rockefeller's pharmaceutical products. Then give him false reputation and status and make him an agent of our major industries. This will save a lot of money and is much better than investing money in useless charity. It can benefit ourselves and be patriotic at the same time. It is a model of public-private partnership."
"John, what William said makes sense!" Before Rockefeller Jr. could speak, Edith Rockefeller spoke first and expressed that she agreed very much with Sheffield's idea, and it was worth it that the latter had been carrying heavy burdens in Chicago recently.
"I have business integrity and will never go back on my word. Don't worry!" Little Rockefeller looked at his sister strangely. When did Edith become interested in this matter?
(End of this chapter)
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