Ideal Metaphor

13 November 2006



Mystery of Disintegrating Euro Notes Solved

In recent weeks, the press across Europe has been following the strange case of disintegrating euro notes. German banking officials say that some 1,500 notes have crumbled after coming out of automatic teller machines. Scientists have discovered the cause. Sulfates used in the production of crystal methamphetamine are at the root of the problem.

This journal is, in matters of victimless crime, extremely libertarian. While not approving of any drug use without medical supervision (including ethanol and nicotine), one must acknowledge that the social damage done by prohibition far outweighs the social harm caused by those who ingest substances that affect their perceptions of the world around them.

That said, some drugs are worse for the user than others. Crystal meth is one of the really bad drugs out there. Wikipedia lists the following effects: diarrhea, nausea, loss of appetite, insomnia, tremor, jaw-clenching, agitation, compulsive fascination with repetitive tasks (so-called “punding”); talkativeness, irritability, panic attacks, increased libido, and dilated pupils. Chronic use also causes: drug craving, weight loss, withdrawal-related depression and anhedonia, erectile dysfunction, rapid tooth decay (known as “meth mouth”), and amphetamine psychosis. Wikipedia also says an overdose can cause: formication (sensation of flesh crawling with bugs, with possible associated compulsive picking and infecting sores, the “meth mites”), brain damage (neurotoxicity), paranoia, delusions, hallucinations and kidney damage from hyperkalemia. Sounds like loads of fun, doesn’t it? Dr. Morrell gave Hitler three shots of this a day around 1944-45, which may explain a lot.

Unlike the führer, the modern meth addicts tend to smoke or sniff the stuff. It’s the sniffers that have caused the bank notes to decay. The sulfates in the drug mix with human sweat top form good old sulfuric acid. This makes the notes brittle and eventually eats through them if concentrated enough. The acid can also affect clean notes in the wallet that are next to the dirty one.

The drug literally destroys the wealth of the individual using it. It doesn’t happen right away, but over time, bank note by bank note. When it comes to metaphors, this is just about perfect.

© Copyright 2006 by The Kensington Review, Jeff Myhre, PhD, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent. Produced using Fedora Linux.

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