Junk Bonds - a World Wonder

[Richard III]

Just read the article talking about the Internet being a world wonder, doubling research, etc.

Hardly.

The Internet has merely aided in adding a flood of e-mail memos, globalizing the porn industry, and made it possible to play civ online.

Instead, I propose that "Michael Millken's Finance Company," "Drexel," or "Junk Bond Revolution" be the new wonder.

Reasons:

1) Better reflects end of game era: real change was brought on by massive increases in wealth, not by Amazon.com
2) Millken's junk bond revolution significantly increased the wealth of both the world and the united states by allowing companies to leverage knowledge assets instead of simply fixed assets
3) Millken's wonder, unlike the net, had mostly nation-specific benefits; the US has been the primary beneficiary in part because Millken literally invented the market and controlled most of its liquidity from the Drexel firm.

Sure, he plead guilty to insider trading. But it's obvious that Guliani set him up to get elected. (and a good thing, that, but I digress).

So, vote, and send a message to Firaxis!

R.III

 

[sappling]

I concur. The Junk bond and the IPO have revolutionized modern economics, finance and business, much more so than the internet. The internet and telecom bubble would never have happened if it was not for junk bond financing and the IPO. I use to do audits on a telecom company that raised $2 billion in a little over two years through junk bonds.

 

[Chingis Khan]

I don't know too much about junk bonds, Millken or modern economics. I guess I also don't know too much about the Internet. But I do know that practically every company in the world uses the Internet. I know that our military uses the Internet. I know that it connects people worldwide. I know that if I walked up to anybody on the street and asked if they were "online" they would know what I was talking about. Richard III, you sound like an academic, did you do all your studying in libraries or did you also use the Internet for research?
I suppose my point is that the Internet is far more widely known then junk bonds. It has touched nearly everybodies lives in the developed world for whatever reason, porn, business, playing civ 3, etc. The Internet also vastly enhances communications and the share of information. Anybody who thinks communications and information aren't important are simply taking it for granted. This is why I think Internet should be a wonder. My vote for it's effects would be to reduce corruption in your far-flung cities to reflect the awesome communications power of the Internet.

 

[Kittrell]

Perhaps the Internet could be an interesting wonder to be had.

One civilization creates the "Internet" wonder in a city. Then, the other civs can work on a wonder themselves, i.e. "High-Speed Lines". This would enable the other civs' people to use the internet, and if each civ acquired the high-speed lines, or what have you, everyone would get increased benefits of being "connected".

I imagine it would work similar to the "Hollywood" wonder in Call To Power, just with everyone getting benefits of it.

 

[jerosen]

What would the proposed Junk Bond wonder do in the game? I don't see that addressed in this thread. I think thats the more important question. Pardon me if its been stated elsewhere and I've missed it.

I think that both Internet and Junk Bond are valid wonders. I don't know how much we need more late game wonders.

Jim