Darkstone Code-Chapter 829 - 827: Circle of Friends
After spending some time finishing reading the entire proposal, Lynch looked at Legislator Landon, "Do you think it has a chance to pass?"
Landon’s sitting posture was very relaxed. In fact, only after reaching this position would one understand how enjoyable it is to be a legislator.
He doesn’t need to be responsible for any vote—hundreds of people vote, why should his vote be the decisive one?
If this cannot be proven, then no matter how he chooses, no matter how he votes, he won’t bear a shred of responsibility.
The money he should earn won’t be less, and the responsibility he should bear won’t be more.
If he actively gets involved locally, or holds important positions on multiple committees, it could be considered as having substantial power, especially committee members like those on the "Budget Committee" or "Appropriations Committee," every vote they hold is worth a lot of money!
Not only are the votes in their hands valuable, but they also possess significant power locally.
Just like when he previously went to the local area as a member of the "Environmental Committee" to investigate pollution issues, everyone from enterprises to City Hall revolved around him.
Because with just one word, one attitude, local enterprises would face the fate of halting production for investigation.
By then, the local area wouldn’t be able to collect taxes, people would lose their jobs, and the whole society would fall into chaos.
To avoid such occurrences, one has to "take care" of Legislator Landon, at least to the point where he can’t find any faults.
So being a legislator is a profession where one can legally make money, have some power, hold a considerable status, and not be responsible for their work content.
Just like now, Lynch asked him whether this proposal has a chance to pass.
If Legislator Landon were still the mayor, he would answer very cautiously, but now that he is a legislator, he nodded casually.
The reason for his nodding was not because he had read the proposal, nor because he knew much about the matters in the proposal, but simply because...
"You know, the Duncan Clan’s lobbying group is the most famous in Bupen, Congress can hardly withstand these people!"
In the Federation, if you haven’t heard of the Duncan Clan’s lobbying groups, then you are definitely just a minor figure.
They have the most professional lawyer team handling various emergencies, followed by a bunch of "former Senators," "former Governors," "former Vice Presidents," and other high-ranking former officials in the Federation personally helping them lobby.
As long as these people take action, hardly anyone can resist.
So from the beginning Landon didn’t consider whether the proposal could pass; he only thought about whether he should be a bit more reserved.
After all, he has just become a Member of Parliament, and his face has not yet matured to the level of those old legislators who have truly turned this sacred job into such a simple "pay for play" job.
He still wants a bit of dignity, sometimes still has to face the conscience that he actually lost long ago.
"Indeed... the Duncan Clan."
Lynch looked at the high-end carpet underfoot, lost in thought. Some describe the Fed’s upper echelons as five percent of people owning ninety-five percent of the Federation’s wealth.
This statement was indeed very shocking when it first appeared. People even organized large-scale parades and strikes to counter the control of capitalists and politicians over this country.
But it was of no use; the Workers’ Union were feasting and eventually buried the matter.
In their words, the rich weren’t wealthy just yesterday; what changes occurred before and after the report?
None at all, plus the worker group isn’t united either. The factory slightly raises benefits or gives another dollar of salary, and the workers immediately return to the assembly line to work diligently, and this turmoil soon ended.
Since then, no matter how the media expose how wealthy a capitalist is, it’s difficult to evoke a common emotional resonance among people. They’ve always been rich, and it’s always been this way.
How much money a rich person has, what kind of luxurious life they live, and what kind of pleasure they enjoy, that’s not news.
Only a rich person becoming a pauper is news, which would arouse strong curiosity in people.
Yet within this lies an even more nuanced issue—
Among the five percent in people’s mouths, this is indeed a large number, at least several million people.
Within these hundred thousand people who hold ninety-five percent of the country’s wealth, another 0.05% control about a dozen or so percent of this ninety-five percent of wealth.
The recognized Duncan Clan members number roughly a thousand, controlling about ten percent of the Federation’s wealth; this is what’s truly rich enough to rival the state, truly astounding.
So when the Duncan Clan decides to push a proposal through Congress, no one even considers stopping it.
Because no one, including the President, can stop it.
Putting hope on the legislators’ loyalty to the country?
It’s better to find a girl just out to exchange self-respect for money and convince her; maybe she might wake up and go home to find a proper job.
But the legislators, never expect much from them.
Legislators will only discuss who offers more and who offers less, and don’t care about anything else at all.
Senator Landon looked at Lynch, the light in his eyes shifting slightly, "Do you have anything planned for tonight?"
Lynch shook his head, "Do you?"
Senator Landon chuckled, "Not really, why don’t we have dinner together since my wife isn’t home...", he explained briefly. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺
His wife was not accustomed to the pace of life in Bupen, where everyone seemed to be in a rush. Having grown used to the slower rhythm of life in Sabin City’s countryside, she found it difficult to adapt to city life.
Thus, Senator Landon had bought a small farm in the suburbs of Bupen, where his wife and daughter lived.
Since he became a Member of Parliament, his daughter’s family also quit their original jobs to help Senator Landon handle some "trivial matters" in life.
So most of the time, Senator Landon lived in the city alone, and would only go to the farm on weekends, or they would all come over.
This kind of life is common among legislators; people just need them to maintain family relationships and harmony among family members, and people don’t want to or can’t see these people together all the time.
Humans, regardless of social status, are ultimately creatures obsessed with appearances.
Lynch nodded, "I have nothing planned for tonight, it’s completely fine."
"Can I invite two more people?", Senator Landon asked in a negotiating tone, "They’re friends I just met, you know, I’m unfamiliar with this place, and making some friends could help me integrate into life here better and faster."
Lynch moved slightly, "No problem!"
At ten past seven, the chef specially invited from the hotel had already prepared a lavish dinner.
For many ordinary people, they can only enjoy authentic restaurant flavors by going to a restaurant, but for wealthy and powerful people, just one call and the restaurant’s chef will bring all the fresh ingredients to their home to prepare a sumptuous feast.
Just one call!
The chef did not leave immediately after finishing, perhaps guests arriving later would have requests, and he could help supplement a bit of food if needed.
Serving Members of Parliament is an honor for the chef and the restaurant.
Around seven fifteen, the "friends" Senator Landon mentioned finally arrived.
For Federation people, seven o’clock is just about the time for dinner; in the Federation’s work schedule, the afternoon end time is at least six o’clock, and many factories end at seven.
The Federation Government’s afternoon work ends at six o’clock, not earlier.
Two years ago, it was six-twenty, but later they found that the twenty minutes was meaningless, so they reduced it to six o’clock.
For this, the Federation Government held more than a dozen hearings to confirm that leaving early didn’t mean wasting taxpayers’ money, only then did people not protest or strike.
Having dinner at seven o’clock is normal for Federation people, not considered late at all, with some even accustomed to dining around eight.
The two arriving legislators brought gifts; interestingly, one brought a bottle of wine, and the other brought a small box of solid colors.
"Landon..., and Mr. Lynch!"
The two legislators appeared very well-mannered, looking around fifty, dressed impeccably.
Each acted like a true gentleman, not forgetting to say thank you as they handed their coats to the maid.
"When Landon said you were here, I couldn’t wait to come!", Legislator A said somewhat awkwardly, though not hard to understand.
In this capital-first country, capitalists are the real masters, and Lynch, as a new generation representative with both capability and potential, attending this small gathering today, how could they miss this chance?
Even just striking up a conversation with Lynch, exchanging business cards, could mean seeking favors or being sought by the other in the future.
Legislator B also chimed in with a smile, "Tomorrow we’ll have new topics to discuss..."
This belonged to those skilled at flattery, subtly done.
The four sat at the dining table, and the two senators invited by Landon were very satisfied with everything here, mainly because Lynch was present.
Lynch, in turn, showed considerable goodwill by engaging warmly in conversation with the two legislators, while Senator Landon seemed momentarily sidelined.
Yet everyone knew he was not sidelined, for he played an important role as the bridge between Lynch and Congress.
Until someone new emerges to replace him in gaining Lynch’s trust, his position remains secure.
Not everything in Congress is always smooth; there are always relatively marginalized individuals, and what Lynch currently lacks most is influence within Congress.
Besides Senator Landon, Lynch doesn’t have many exceptionally close legislator friends.
The few in the Military Committee are limited to a one-time cooperative relationship, with more connections running among military personnel.
The matter of Mr. Jeruno pushing the proposal provided Lynch significant insight; he needs to start accelerating the building of his influence within Congress!
