Dinosaur Derivatives and Other Trades

6 What is Ownership?Faust

“Not one is dissatisfied, not one is demented with the mania of owning things.”

—commenting on animals, Walt Whitman (1819–1892)

Let's start with another brief, thought experiment—one that I suspect will be quite easy for many people. Suppose that you want to become the proud owner of a brand new Ferrari.

To accomplish this, you will of course have to visit a Ferrari showroom. No great hardship. There, displayed in splendor, is a select array of vehicles renowned for their leopard-like ability to spring from zero to 60 in seconds. You will be able to get into a soft Italian-leather seat behind an awe-inspiring control panel, to grip the wheel and imagine yourself flying along winding roads in a vehicle that throbs with power. If you are well-dressed enough and give off all the vibes of prosperity—in other words, if it appears you have the financial wherewithal to purchase the car—you may even be allowed to take it for a test drive, an experience (if you are a true car lover) that is likely to confirm your appetite for ownership.

Now that you are softened up, the salesperson takes you into his quiet office where the walls are festooned with “Salesperson of the Year” plaques. After a cheerful discussion about your lifestyle habits, family, and ambitions, ...