Transactions

We are discussing the type of friendship called utility. We might call it business. Friends out of commonalities or those who love each other have less of an emphasis on justice. They aren't worried about getting a square deal as much since they are interested more in making the other person happy. Those who are in a pleasure relationship might have a transaction involved but when the pleasure is gone the relationship is terminated. This is what we call entertainment. Conflicts arise when the objective is misunderstood or when there is an injustice. We don't know entertainers or politicians personally so their personal lives shouldn't affect how we feel. The relationships are entertainment and utility only, so good movies and good governing should be what keeps the relationship going.

Getting back to utility relationships; most conflicts occur here and therefore rules apply to this kind of relationship. These rules are moral or written our heart and we write laws when clarity is needed. The objective is justice; where both parties feel the exchange was good. Things concerning virtue don't change whether it concerns an individual or a group. Justice is justice and business is business. We have addressed how healthy or good friendships are related to justice.

In the business realm, transactions are straight up. A person's wealth should have no bearing on a transaction. It is unjust to charge a person more than anyone else because of their wealth or position. Theater tickets and groceries cost the same to all and this is just. A republic exists to enforce justice and insure everyone has equal rights to goods and property. No one is excluded if they can pay the price.

Every person who uses public works should contribute to the common stock. Those of means who donate are worthy of respect and honor. This is what makes the exchange just. A person should receive honor for giving and there is nothing wrong with being proud of it. Those who benefit and cannot pay enough should at least honor those who do. It is a disgrace for a people to endorse living at the expense of others. It is even a worse injustice for a beneficiary to despise their benefactor.

A strong country will have a strong sense of justice where everyone is proud to give to the common stock and wouldn't think of taking from it without contributing themselves. Those who are committed to public works receive honor as a bonus and out of respect  to the contributors, shouldn't look to it as a means of acquiring wealth. So a business transaction deals more with a straight exchange of goods for justice while public works has the element of respect and honor added to those who do the work. Problems arise when public honor and wealth are in the transaction together because the straight up value of the transaction is distorted by the obligation demanded for the honor of public good. A person can demand more for a service and produce less but justify it by claiming the honor of the common good. That is the difference between private business transactions with citizens and public works. The exchange of labor and goods are straight up for the private sector and contributions for public works have the element of honor involved.