"Okay people," the facilitator said a few minutes later, "we still have to decide what to do about the Phoenix money that"s circulating here in Parker." She paused for a moment and glanced nervously around the room. "Even if Frank wasn't responsible for that fire, he, or someone else who refuses to accept the Phoenix money, might do something stupid."
"Damn right," Tom shouted. "I say we just refuse to honor the crap!"
"Do you," Beth asked sarcastically, rising to her feet. "So tell me, exactly how much Phoenix money have you accepted?"
"Not one bit. I know real money when I see it."
"That's a laugh," she said, pulling an Angel out of her wallet and holding it up. "And what exactly makes these things real for you? Is it the pictures of dead actors, or the fact that they were designed by a convicted counterfeiter?"
"What's important," he said angrily, "is that it's backed by gold."
"Gold? Can't you even read? It says right on the back that Angels embody the hard work and good faith of the people who labor for the betterment of Los Angeles."
"I think we're getting sidetracked here," the facilitator said. "It's ludicrous to argue about which city's money is real and which one isn't. What makes any money real is people's willingness to use it. Our problem is what to do about the fact that at least one person here in Parker is in violent opposition to using it."
"Excuse me," Peter said tentatively, "can I say something?"
"Sure."
"Well, it seems to me that if the people in Parker refuse to accept the Phoenix money, we'd be alienating an awful lot of people who ought to be our allies."
"Allies?" Tom shot back. "What the hell do we need them for?"
"Well, for one thing," someone replied, "they buy a lot of what we make here."
"Besides," Peter went on, "if we accept the money but reject the explanation for the fading ink, there's no reason for us to accept the labor conversion for Angels either. The only way we can survive as a community is if we agree on some common principles. I say we accept the Phoenix narrative, and talk with the people there about setting up a printing operation in Parker so we can refresh any of their money that's spent here, and extend the territory where it's accepted."
Beth looked at him agape. "I thought you came to work for me because you wanted to build things. And now you want to be a banker?"
"Of course not," he laughed. "What I want to do is build the printing press."
Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
1
1
