this peice of cloth paper is worth 10 arbitrary government units, because politicians and bureaucrats say so. 
and because you believe them, i can give it to you, for a bag of apples. of course the printers of the cloth paper want a percentage of every trade people make everywhere. and if you dont give it to them, men with guns will come to your home, separate your family, take your belongings, and lock you in a cage until you learn to always pay them. But its ok, its normal.
And besides… without them, who would build the roads? https://image.nostr.build/93dd66e3dd6db80d8941a6112a369cd1a69f0d669ef8dca58a41ffd622fb0f5b.png  

 Are… are you a… you wouldn’t happen to be a…