The term 'LIKE PARKING METERS' can be summarized as 'FED', which is an acronym for Federal Reserve System. The Federal Reserve System is the central banking system of the United States, established in 1913 by the Federal Reserve Act. It is responsible for setting monetary policy, regulating banks, and providing financial services to depository institutions. The Federal Reserve System is composed of twelve regional Federal Reserve Banks, each of which is responsible for a particular region of the country. The Federal Reserve System also includes the Board of Governors, which is responsible for setting monetary policy and overseeing the operations of the Federal Reserve Banks.