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<blockquote data-quote="Dannyalcatraz" data-source="post: 7880122" data-attributes="member: 19675">They’re a way, like any gem, of holding (or demonstrating) wealth in a portable- and concealable- form that can accrue value.&nbsp; The ability to own them- and similar forms of wealth- is an economically measurable positive effect.And restrictions on ownership would be a measurable negative.&nbsp; (Especially with a death penalty involved.)Why does it matter if one gemstone is prohibited if others are allowed?&nbsp; Because their relative values are not in lockstep, but vary independently of each other.&nbsp; That distorts the market and can make or break fortunes.&nbsp; Example: in 1967, a 1carat flawless, D grade, round brilliant cut diamond was worth $1000.&nbsp; For the same amount of money, you could buy a ton of blue chalcedony.&nbsp; Thirty years later, that diamond was worth $16k.&nbsp; The ton of blue chalcedony, OTOH, was worth over $1M.If, arguendo, the price of pearls skyrocketed in comparison to other gems or commodities, only those with permission to own them would see the benefit.&nbsp; That’s the definition of an artificial source of income inequality.I was simply making a point about human societies in general. But even free societies have their....quirks.&nbsp; At the risk of being too political, in the USA, 7 states bar atheists from holding public office.&nbsp; Ignoring all the RW politics and legality, simply substitute “magic user” for ”atheist” in this thread’s version of the USA, and you see how this hypothetical COULD shape up, even here.The devil is always in the details, though.&nbsp; If mind control magic is relatively simple- or at least not outright impossible- in this setting, it can be used to sway the vote.If the ability to perform magic is randomly distributed, there is no reason for this to be true.If “The Gift” is associated with other known human attributes, that will affect the odds depending on what it’s associated with- eye color?&nbsp; Hair color?&nbsp; Ethnicity?&nbsp; Left or right handedness?&nbsp; Musical talent? Genius?&nbsp; Some genetic defect?Your level of infestation with symbiotic critters like...”manachlorians”?</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Dannyalcatraz, post: 7880122, member: 19675"] They’re a way, like any gem, of holding (or demonstrating) wealth in a portable- and concealable- form that can accrue value. The ability to own them- and similar forms of wealth- is an economically measurable positive effect. And restrictions on ownership would be a measurable negative. (Especially with a death penalty involved.) Why does it matter if one gemstone is prohibited if others are allowed? Because their relative values are not in lockstep, but vary independently of each other. That distorts the market and can make or break fortunes. Example: in 1967, a 1carat flawless, D grade, round brilliant cut diamond was worth $1000. For the same amount of money, you could buy a ton of blue chalcedony. Thirty years later, that diamond was worth $16k. The ton of blue chalcedony, OTOH, was worth over $1M. If, arguendo, the price of pearls skyrocketed in comparison to other gems or commodities, only those with permission to own them would see the benefit. That’s the definition of an artificial source of income inequality. I was simply making a point about human societies in general. But even free societies have their....quirks. At the risk of being too political, in the USA, 7 states bar atheists from holding public office. Ignoring all the RW politics and legality, simply substitute “magic user” for ”atheist” in this thread’s version of the USA, and you see how this hypothetical COULD shape up, even here. The devil is always in the details, though. If mind control magic is relatively simple- or at least not outright impossible- in this setting, it can be used to sway the vote. If the ability to perform magic is randomly distributed, there is no reason for this to be true. If “The Gift” is associated with other known human attributes, that will affect the odds depending on what it’s associated with- eye color? Hair color? Ethnicity? Left or right handedness? Musical talent? Genius? Some genetic defect? Your level of infestation with symbiotic critters like...”manachlorians”? [/QUOTE]

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