The study of commerce could take up a semester’s-long course in it of itself, where from the philosophy of  money to the functionality of it serves to be examined.  Money, sadly, cannot simply be made and put to use immediately; money has a very lengthy process beyond that, the most important of which is national acceptance of the rather vague concept.  It must be influenced by the type of society in which it is being crafted for and how the government there is run.  America has the benefit of being a Capitalist society, where we prefer to keep the government’s hands out of our pockets (with an exception to taxation, unfortunately).  Here, money is the focal point of our greatest successes and worst falls, and has become what we base out lives around every day.  To anyone thinking these representational pieces of paper really serve no “point,” and that the concept is flawed, I challenge to spend a day on Wall Street, take a glance at a few conglomerates, and play in the New York Stock Exchange a little; the money system is important, and a war in itself, and everyone needs a united understanding.

The idea of Yap is interesting, as it can show that this civilization is finally evolving; money and a commerce system is a stepping-stone of social reform, and on an isolated island with no real contact to the rest of the developing world it is rather amusing that they would follow the same path as American settlers.  The Yap recognized that money represents power, wealth, and authority; not just anyone can be rich, basically.  In America, regardless of what people “choose” to believe, money is authority; those with wealth achieved it somehow, and usually from some form of work and dedication, and therefore understand how the world works.  As such, more power to them; they have earned it and the privileges wealth entails.  Say there is a CEO, and this man has been employed by him company for decades, who advanced position after position from starting in the mail room.  He now treks to his large, windowed office in a nice suit, sets his briefcase on his glossy desk, and smiles at all he has done and made of himself.  Later a new mailroom boy is hired.  By some radical new government intervention, the new employee now makes the same salary as his CEO, and therefore is able to control the company in the same manner.  This simply is not right.   Not just anyone can be wealthy and powerful.  This is the true representation of money; yes, these pieces of paper and coinage are meant to be “how much someone has,” but not really; it’s a power game and a necessary part of society.  Yap recognizing this all on their own says quite a bit on the human condition, really.  Money is merely a way to show strength.