Geekonomics

While looking over metric measurement notation I hit upon an idea. A very geeky idea. A geeky idea for a nation quickly going geek out of necessity.

Our current designation system of monetary sums becomes a blur. So rhymey that people get lost in a Seussian haze. Million, billion, trillion, gazillion. It all sounds the same after a while.

Instead we could use metric denominations made popular by the techification of the nation. I call it Geekonomics.

• one thousand = kilo
• one million = mega
• one billion = giga
• one trillion = tera

To show how this could prove useful, let's look at one of today's top news stories.

Obama aims to cut deficit in half by 2013

'The deficit this administration inherited was $1.3 trillion or 9.2 percent of GDP. By 2013, the end of the president's first term, the budget cuts the deficit to $533 billion or 3.0 percent of GDP,' the official told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

'Most of the savings will come from winding down the war in Iraq, increased (tax) revenue from those making more than $250,000 a year, and savings from making government work more efficiently and eliminating programs that do not work,' the official said.

The United States spent about $190 billion on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan in 2008. Obama has pledged to withdraw U.S. combat troops from Iraq within 16 months while ramping up the U.S. military effort in Afghanistan.

Let's reread this using Geekonomics.

'The deficit this administration inherited was 1.3 terabucks or 9.2 percent of GDP. By 2013, the end of the president's first term, the budget cuts the deficit to 533 gigabucks or 3.0 percent of GDP,' the official told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

'Most of the savings will come from winding down the war in Iraq, increased (tax) revenue from those making more than 250 kilobucks a year, and savings from making government work more efficiently and eliminating programs that do not work,' the official said.

The United States spent about 190 gigabucks on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan in 2008. Obama has pledged to withdraw U.S. combat troops from Iraq within 16 months while ramping up the U.S. military effort in Afghanistan.

For me, Geekonomics makes the differences between denominations clearer. And who wouldn't love a meg in the safe*?

* I'd say in the bank, but under the current conditions I'd feel better hiding it under my mattress rather than handing it over to a bunch of known crooks.