*Linda is the proprietor of a bar. In order to increase sales, she decides
> to allow her loyal customers - most of whom are unemployed alcoholics - to
> drink now but pay later. She keeps track of the drinks consumed on a ledger
> (thereby granting the customers loans). Word gets around and as a result
> increasing numbers of customers flood into Linda's bar. *
*Linda is the proprietor of a bar. In order to increase sales, she decides
> to allow her loyal customers - most of whom are unemployed alcoholics - to
> drink now but pay later. She keeps track of the drinks consumed on a ledger
> (thereby granting the customers loans). Word gets around and as a result
> increasing numbers of customers flood into Linda's bar. *
>
> * *
>
> *Taking advantage of her customers' freedom from immediate payment
> constraints, Linda increases her prices for wine and beer, the most-consumed
> beverages. Her sales volume increases massively. A young and dynamic
> customer service consultant at the local bank recognizes these customer
> debts as valuable future assets and increases Linda's borrowing limit. He
> sees no reason for undue concern since he has the debts of the alcoholics as
> collateral... At the bank's corporate headquarters, expert bankers transform
> these customer assets into DRINKBONDS, ALKBONDS and PUKEBONDS. These
> securities are then traded on markets worldwide. *
>
> * *
>
> *No one really understands what these abbreviations mean and how the
> securities are guaranteed. Nevertheless, as their prices continuously climb,
> the securities become top-selling items. One day, although the prices are
> still climbing, a risk manager (subsequently of course fired due to his
> negativity) of the bank decides that slowly the time has come to demand
> payment of the debts incurred by the drinkers at Linda's bar. However they
> cannot pay back the debts. Linda cannot fulfil her loan obligations and
> claims bankruptcy. DRINKBOND and ALKBOND drop in price by 95 %. PUKEBOND
> performs better, stabilizing in price after dropping by 80 %. *
>
> * *
>
> *The suppliers of Linda's bar, having granted her generous payment due dates
> and having invested in the securities are faced with a new situation. Her
> wine supplier claims bankruptcy, her beer supplier is taken over by a
> competitor. The bank is saved by the Government following dramatic
> round-the-clock consultations by leaders from the governing political
> parties (and vested interests). The funds required for this purpose are
> obtained by a tax levied on the non-drinkers*.
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