Why People From All Walks Of Life Are Choosing Alternative Currency To Barter With

By Kate McMahon


With a failing economy spreading out to cover more and more aspects of service, retail, online products and banking institutions, many more people are curious why government should control the money supply. Called micro-currency and alternative currency this growing trend is gaining in popularity in all parts of the world.

It is surprising how many people take for granite that the small pieces of paper they carry around with them have any value at all. Different ways to value and exchange goods are sprouting up at an all time rate. Some of them are even being used and endorsed by rich and famous people. While it is unlikely they ever overtake common forms of money like dollars or euros, they seem to really be catching on.

These unconventional types of bartering generally become increasingly popular during hard economic times. Centralized government money begins drying up and the people still have wants that must met. Families still must purchase food, they still must pay for bills, goods and various services. People came up with very creative ways for them to meet all these needs that will not be illegal while staying accessible to the typical person.

In the US all currency is controlled by the federal reserve. While Americans can use money, it is not really theirs. Defacing currency in the US is a federal crime. Counterfeiting money is one as well. Knowing this it is surprising to learn that 13 states are seeking approval from their state government to mint their own money.

Another growing trend is litecoin and bitcoin. One of the bigger advantages they have is their decentralization. They are fast, simple and totally anonymous over the world. People remain very willing to stock their faith in new technology over traditional economic banking institutions.

A more local version is called berkshare in Berkshires used in the mid western part of MA. There are about 400 local small businesses that will accept them in place of U. S. Dollar. This also includes some 13 different banks which act as an exchange station. This helps to build closer community ties with businesses that accept and their patrons.

Even large corporations are getting on the bandwagon too. Large companies like starbucks or amazon are offering their starbucks stars or their amazon coins. These items are exchanged for different goods and services from each company. In the recent past other companies have used this business model like marlboro or camel with marlboro miles or camel dollars. Both were used to exchange for various novelty items when they were sent to the company.

Most advocates for trying to use alternative currency honestly believes them to be a separate means of offering buying power back to the group of people who otherwise would live on the outside fringe of any fiscal success. This gives these people like the disabled, underemployed and elderly an opportunity to achieve some form of economic freedom. As times begin to get bad, people will be more worried about what they have to trade for than what they have. And this is what they are betting their future on.




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