Karma Currency
it started as a way of living, and turned into something amazing.

9. Policymakers
...
George and Martha sat quietly at their estate, far away from the rest of the world at large. While at times the decisions they made had such an impact on society, there were other quiet times like these when it all felt indifferent.

Still, something was on George's mind. He was perturbed at the influx of this phenomenon of people making their own currency.

George: "It's got to be illegal, Martha. I'm sure it is."
Martha: "Just find the statute and bring it to the Supreme Court."

Because we all know what the Supreme Court does. It makes an example of someone in an overwhelmingly sweeping statement of a sentence, if convicted. And the decision affects all cases like it.

George stood up to walk to the refridgerator for more iced tea. He asked Martha if she wanted more, and she told him to just put some ice in the pitcher and bring it out here. George said that the ice would dilute the concentration of the iced tea, and Martha said, "Forget it."

It was August and the summer was winding down to an end. Much of Washington was quiet because everyone was on vacation. They could afford to be on vacation, because somewhere generations ago, it was asserted by the forefathers of modern government that politicians should take it easy. Nothing happens late in the summer when everyone's on vacation. All the real decisions happen at midnight, or on a rainy Sunday in March.

This was all by design, of course. But today, it was hotter than hell. And it kept on getting warmer as the day carried on into the afternoon. George sat and read the news, while Martha stirred her iced tea carefully, and listened to the radio. She was a fan of NPR, who on this occasion, happened to be describing the very story which was written that invoked the influx of this phenomenon of people making their own currency.

The show, called "Where we live," was yet another interesting radio show that they provided. Often the content differed drastically based on the nature of the guest.

Host: "Today's guest is an author by the name of Ian APplegate, who wrote a book on the nature of currency. Isn't that right, Ian?"
Guest: "Yeah, sorta. That's kind of the concept behind it, but it's more about free will."

George was listening to the radio and scoffed. "Free will? Ha. Tell me about free will when the national highway system crumbles on account of nobody paying their taxes. I ought to call in."

Guest: "So, karma is something of an ancient concept."
Host: "And you've managed to relate it to currency... how?"
Guest: "Because it fluctuates in value, on a per need basis. Becaus esometimes people understimate its value. Karma has an intrinsic value, and part of the concept behind the title was to describe the possible relation between varying degrees and purposes for karma."
Host: "What do you mean by varying degrees?""
Guest: Take for example,, all of the clothes that get thrown out every year at Yale University when the kids go home from schoo,