Time is, in the Alliance, literally money. And many people work very hard to save time. However, when you are both the employee, and the boss, it can be hard, without gentle reminders, to avoid being a rather cruel one, at least when it's your own self you're bossing around. -- Anon Guest
Several words and phrases have changed in the Alliance. Since the Shattering, terms like "self-employed", "worker-shareholder", and "public benefit" have transformed into something new. Something a lot more truthful.
The Alliance also has a little thing known as "Universal Basic Accommodations". Which include public servants. There to make certain that people in the community have everything they need. Depending on gender identity, they're known as Aunties, Uncles, or Untys[1], and they are your tax payments at work.
Some Deregger expatriates need a lot of getting used to that idea. Especially the bit about their taxes paying for public services that they can use.
So far, Aaron was free to choose which facilities she took advantage of. Some were judged as fools giving handouts. Others were just plain handouts and therefore morally reprehensible. She held a firm belief that she didn't need them and barely tolerated the taxes that made them functional services.
She still viewed the laws as strange and weird, but she obeyed them because she identified herself as a law-abiding citizen. Visits with her area Aunty included debates about why the laws were moral... or not.
"People are going to get lazy," complained Aaron. "They're going to slob around on their butts not doing anything and leeching off the hard work of anyone who wants to get ahead."
"You spend your tax time on helping me, last cycle," said Aunty Raz. "Did you see anyone like that? Did you meet anyone like that?"
"Our community is a very small sample size," argued Aaron. "I'd need to make a larger and honest survey, and I can't afford to do it."
"I can provide statistics from the Alliance census. Those have to be honest for taxation purposes."
Aaron grumbled and left the matter for another day. "All right. Let's cover your concerns. I know you have them. You always have them."
"You've delayed your free checkup for the third time this month."
"I don't need it, I'm fine." Aaron scoffed. "I don't want to waste anyone's time. In either sense of the word."
"Prevention is cheaper than cure," sighed Raz. "You don't want others' taxes to pay for your your medical intervention if something goes wrong."
Aaron had another sub-vocal grumble about that.
"I can hold your hand if you're scared," Raz teased.
[1] Here spelled with a Y to avoid confusion with the word for loosening a knot.
[Photo by Dmitrij Paskevic on Unsplash]
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