Being honest and working hard and doing my best in school and at fiat jobs has always been punished rather than rewarded.

But those punishments were only so when viewed from the lens of fiat. Yeah, I didn't get the grades or recognition or promotions or raises I thought I deserved, but I got something that was worth a whole lot more: a good reputation and a sense of dignity.

In the short run, my hard work had seemingly no effect in fiat land, but my good reputation came back to bless me when I left my last job. I was able to land an independent contracting position with another department because of my work, and I've been happier for it.

So I guess, maybe being honest doesn't pay off now because fiat makes everyone else incentivized to be dishonest. But I do believe good work and reputation survives beyond the short term gains everyone else achieves.