Last week I made the following observation:

On a broad scale, (for example a bureaucracy), our basis for reason is not right and wrong; it is not fairness; it is not justice; it is not ethical behavior; it is varying combinations and degrees of money and power; power in turn, being determined by money and/or one's position of influence. And once one has tasted financial success and/or power, it is difficult for that individual (or organization) to think in any terms other than what he, she, or they believe to be the greater good; beliefs tainted by power that tend to lose sight of the individual. This is sad.

Earlier tonight I posted 'Concierge Happiness' where I expressed my thoughts on the growing practice of concierge medicine which attempts (from my perspective) to infuse market reasoning into a circumstance it does not belong.

These thoughts (above) led me to the following thoughts (below).

I believe that market transactions should trade in market currencies including money, power, influence, marketable goods and services transacted impersonally, policy and procedure, incentives, and consideration for the greater good.

I believe that human transactions should trade in human currencies including consideration for the individual, productive two-way communication, emotional interaction, trust, compassion, understanding, responsibility, respect, and goodwill.

Human transactions also trade in counterpart currencies including fear, manipulation, disrespect, distrust, cruelty, indifference, disdain, insensitivity, avoidance, scorn, rejection, and the seven (pride, anger, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, and sloth) deadly sins. There is a natural gravitational attraction between these counterpart currencies and market currencies.

I believe that human currencies can and should find their way into market transactions, but I do not believe market currencies have any place in human transactions.

I believe that market transactions are impersonal and emotionless. It is fairly difficult to transact strictly on a market basis, yet it is fairly convenient to use market reasoning to explain an impersonal, emotionless human transaction.

I believe that human transactions include any human interaction that involves the sharing of any personal or private information or any purposeful action that foreseeably impacts the personal well-being of any individual.

I believe that casual human transactions can appear to consist strictly of human currencies by ignoring their counterpart currencies, but I believe that (at least) an occasional smattering of these counterpart currencies is unavoidable. A consistently open, dynamic exchange of human currencies and an active, respectful acknowledgment of the inevitability of their counterpart currencies will add meaning and depth to a human transaction.

Additionally, if the stated or implied intent of a specific set of circumstances is to create or maintain a positive human transaction and someone attempts to corrupt or short-circuit the intent by utilizing money, power, influence, or a claim of a greater good, the integrity of the human transaction is threatened. Any attempt to degrade and devalue a human transaction by utilizing market currencies, should be thwarted.

I believe the human relationships that define human transactions include (the obvious) family, friends, close neighbors, associates in selected social organizations, and trusted co-workers; and (based on the definition above) must also include many employer - employee circumstances, and many professional services including doctor - patient, attorney - client, and even elected official - constituent.

Granted, some of the given 'human transaction' examples already involve a market transaction, (such as employer - employee relationships and professional services) but to allow an additional influx of market currencies will only further dilute the human relationship.

Think about the following five examples:

1. Your car won't start so you ask a friend for a ride to work and they oblige. You are thanking them for their kindness, (and feeling all warm and fuzzy), and then they ask you for $5 to help with the gas.
2. The oldest profession (prostitution) dehumanizes, degrades, cheapens, and demeans both the parties involved and the act.
3. Your employer (in the person of your immediate supervisor) appeals to your goodwill and sense of responsibility to 'go the extra mile' and your supervisor (as a result) selfishly basks in the glow of success, while you are left to do your job.
4. Many bureaucracies shake your hand (with one hand) and smile while picking your pocket (with the other hand) for hidden fees, service charges, and other business courtesies.
5. Your Doctor, (with whom you have shared many intimate and personal details over the years), is suddenly soliciting an additional fee for the privilege of his services, creating an exclusive 'members only' patient list.

Human relationships are built through human transactions using human currencies and reacting to (or initiating) their counterpart currencies.

Business relationships are built through market transactions using market currencies.

What we mistake as a Mixed (Human and Business) relationship is in actuality a layering of human and business transactions, (and their associated human, counterpart, and market currencies), of which we interpret the most recent, the most memorable, and/or the thickest layer or layers to define the essence of the relationship.

The introduction of market currency changes Truth and cheapens Wisdom.

In many arenas it will be difficult to stem the flow of market currencies, strengthen the viability of human currencies, and synergize the certainty of counterpart currencies, but as a starting point (and at the very least) we must know the difference.