Do you have the time?

[Farseeker]

Time banking – depositing subjective time when not needed, to be withdrawn and applied when needed – brought about the most extensive societal changes since the Industrial Revolution and the Internet, especially once interchange protocols facilitated transfers between individuals. A new class structure arose as employers started using time bonuses for top executives. As previously with blood banks, underclasses without job skills discovered that there was a market for sale of their time. Different rates of aging now distinguish our economic classes.

It is now literally true that time is money. And today the high court ruled that time transfers are taxable.

[strawman]

Ever since the beginning, economic life is a matter of monetizing time

[secretnude]

I have the time, as a one percenter,
but I do not have time for dissenters
trying to overthrow our rule
who are they trying to fool?

Slow, the way it goes, time enough for life to unfold,
or so I have been told
like the paper bills I fold in my big wallet,
and ride a jet to all exotic locations and fun situations
that only the lower classes could dream my life is made of cream
and as I invest my time more wisely that most
I gain a lot of time, I will never be a ghost.

[Varda]

This is both a cool and terrifying idea. I'm trying to think if I would want to sell my extra time, if given the choice. Since in the USA at least, people already don't use up all their vacation days each year (already a measly amount by the rest of the First World's standards), I can only imagine how people might feel obligated to hand over their free time outright. For the middle class, having no time to do anything might actually become sort of a bragging right or mark of honor, demonstrating how dedicate you are to making money.

Anyway, great drabble. Quite thought-provoking, Farseeker!