Governments rarely admit even to themselves any more than strictly necessary about the importance of smuggling. These habits tend to be hard to break, so they don't even always admit to themselves enough how vital they are. Because what government really wants to admit that the limits they've put on trade are ones that not even they can live with?
But for New Troy, any android half of Dolly's age would know about android smuggling in New Troy and that it's one of the forms of illegal trade that is actually usually strictly enforced.
You might be surprised about the room for 'illegitimate legitimacy' in this world; if you fulfill a customer requirement well enough to attract repeat business and referrals you can be a 'reputable' just about anything. Reputable courtesan, reputable meth cooker, reputable mutual fund manager, reputable used car salesman, reputable radio personality, reputable lawyer... there may even be reputable politicians.
Reputation spread by word of mouth is about the only advertising a smuggler (free marketer daring closed borders) can use. Legal advertising is closed to them.
Unfortunately, their reputation has to include a tough stance on getting defrauded, since they also have no recourse to the state-monopolized legal system. That may make them look less 'safe' to peaceful law-abiding types, but it is necessary.
You're rich enough to know? I didn't know that multi-billionaires who have bought the services of many politicians read webcomics and comment on the internet.
Why bother being a multi-billionaire with many politicians in my pocket if I couldn't have the leisure to read webcomics and comment on the internet? :D
Depends on who's checking the reputation. If you're a millionaire or billionaire, you really want to go with the reputable politician who will actually do what you've paid him to do, rather than one of the ones who will take everyone's money and then do something to screw everyone over.
Reputable stockbroker seems to me as plausible as a reputable bookie. Which is plausible, it's just not quite in the way most people think reputable should be.
If you get people to classify you (erronously) then you will be largely ignored. They will see what they EXPECT to see, not what is really there.
Just look back at Breaker, he saw Dolly as a human. Despite her all but beating him over the head with it he CONTINUED to see her as a human, instead of the gynoid she is.
I don't know about that, Mr. Black. I mean, most of the Superman's I remember Clark's REAL power seemed to be not getting too messed up. Including his hair. From Bud Collyer's Superman thru George Reeves to Christopher Reeve to Tim Daly's representation. :-D
Granted, Mr. Black; however, that one curl never MOVED. I mean, nuclear blast... it stayed in one place. Getting zapped by Darkseid, stayed in one place. :-D
And a still slightly
damp behind the ears
Ceci...
But for New Troy, any android half of Dolly's age would know about android smuggling in New Troy and that it's one of the forms of illegal trade that is actually usually strictly enforced.
High end drug smugglers have been known to brand their products.
Anyone who can reliably do a job is in a position to be considered reputable.
After all, if you're smuggling tea to the US (because you aren't paying the tariff), the British are just ONE of the armed marauders you might face.
Reputation spread by word of mouth is about the only advertising a smuggler (free marketer daring closed borders) can use. Legal advertising is closed to them.
Unfortunately, their reputation has to include a tough stance on getting defrauded, since they also have no recourse to the state-monopolized legal system. That may make them look less 'safe' to peaceful law-abiding types, but it is necessary.
Especially the higher up the ranks you get.
And reputable lawyers are few and far between as well. And as for stockbrokers ... not a one!
Reputable stockbroker seems to me as plausible as a reputable bookie. Which is plausible, it's just not quite in the way most people think reputable should be.
Just look back at Breaker, he saw Dolly as a human. Despite her all but beating him over the head with it he CONTINUED to see her as a human, instead of the gynoid she is.
EWW
♪Whistles♫
However, the Patreon thing is a re-ocurring thing, so it's like hitting the donate button once a month, only with much less work.