"We’re not just solving the debt problem; we’re making history."
On the other end of the line, Sanders let out a low grunt of understanding.
He got it.
Although there would surely be plenty of issues with the actual execution of the dia campaign, Leo already had a successful track record. Replicating it shouldn’t be too much of a problem.
"So, what about Moretti?" Sanders pressed. "That old stubborn codger isn’t in it for the money; he’s in it for the power. With your five hundred million, he’ll be even more jealous. He’ll do everything he can to seize control of that money, or simply prevent you from spending it."
"Moretti?"
Leo laughed.
"Senator, the reason Moretti was able to block my twenty-million-dollar budget was because that was existing capital from the city’s finances."
"That was at that was already in everyone’s bowl."
"By blocking that money, he might have angered the citizens, but he could explain it away as being for ’fiscal security’ or to ’prevent waste.’ Politically, that logic is sound. He was fulfilling his duty as a gatekeeper."
But Leo’s tone turned aggressive.
"This five-hundred-million-US-Dollar special-purpose bond is new capital."
"This is money that I, Leo Wallace, brought in from Washington and from the market through my own efforts."
"The purpose of this money was stated crystal clear when the bonds were issued: for renovating community infrastructure, for constructing the Inland Port, and for creating jobs."
"If Moretti dares to refuse to approve this money for the budget, the nature of the situation changes completely."
"More importantly, Senator, the Pittsburgh City Council has nine seats."
"Moretti may be the Speaker, but he only has one vote. The reason he could control the others was that he held the power to distribute limited resources."
"But now, I have resources too—five hundred million US Dollars’ worth."
"This money is enough to pave the districts of the other eight council mbers with gold bricks. Every council mber has roads they want to repair, voters they want to please, and contractors they want to feed."
"If Moretti dares to stand in the way, he won’t just be blocking . He’ll be blocking the financial interests of the other eight council mbers and their hopes for reelection."
Leo snorted. "In this world, no one is going to argue with five hundred million US Dollars, not even the Council Speaker."
"If he’s really foolish enough to block this huge sum from entering Pittsburgh for the sake of his so-called pride or power..."
"...then I won’t need to negotiate with him anymore."
"I’ll take this money and talk directly to the other eight council mbers."
"When the ti cos, I wouldn’t mind introducing a new motion before the budget vote—to remove the Speaker."
"I’m confident that, faced with the temptation of five hundred million US Dollars, it won’t be difficult for the other council mbers to replace him with soone more obedient."
"Before, I was the one begging him for his signature."
"But now, he’ll be the one begging —begging to spend the money quickly, begging to put his na on the appropriation bills so he can get a piece of the credit and a slice of the pie."
"I will use this five hundred million US Dollars to create an unstoppable flood."
"Moretti can either choose to open the floodgates and irrigate his own farmland in the process, or he can choose to resist to the bitter end and be washed away by the flood without a trace."
"I believe that as a shrewd politician who has spent so many years in the council, he knows which choice to make."
After he finished speaking, Leo waited quietly for Sanders’s reaction.
This one-two punch was logically tight and perfectly interconnected.
It not only resolved the legal crisis but also completely broke the stalemate in the City Council.
More importantly, it demonstrated Leo’s understanding of how power operates.
He was no longer just a protestor shouting slogans; he had learned how to use the power of capital to crush administrative resistance.
Roosevelt’s voice echoed in the depths of Leo’s mind.
’Learning to use capital to manipulate the administration is a mandatory lesson for anyone in politics in this country.’
’Many people think power cos from the official seal, from the letter of the law, from a high and mighty position.’
’In so countries, that may be true. But here, capital is the blood, and the administration is just the blood vessels.’
’At the very foundation of this country, although we filled the Constitution with words like freedom and democracy, in the actual operational logic, capital holds a higher-dinsional priority over administrative orders.’
’It’s a constitution not written on paper, but etched into the very bones of the system.’
’Moretti thinks he can control the situation because he controls the rules of procedure and the committee seats. But he’s forgotten that rules are made by people, and people follow the money.’
’When five hundred million US Dollars of capital is hanging over everyone’s heads, it’s no longer just money.’
’It is gravity. It is the tide. It can warp rules, reshape loyalties, and liquefy once-solid administrative barriers in an instant.’
’Before, you tried to move bureaucrats with morality or force them with the law. It was exhausting because you were swimming against the current. Now, you’ve learned to either feed them or crush them with capital. You have beco the current itself.’
’This is the political truth of the United States: administrative power is often rely the executive arm of capital’s will. Whoever controls the flow of capital is the true Legislator.’
After a long mont, Sanders’s voice ca from the other end of the line.
"Very good."
This ti, there was no doubt in the old man’s voice, only admiration.
"Leo, you’re growing even faster than I imagined."
"You don’t just know how to rally the masses; you also know how to exploit their greed."
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