Thursday, September 5, 2013

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

By Kate McMahon


With the downturn in the economy spreading out to involve more and more parts of service, retail, online goods and even banking institutions, more and more people are wondering why governments control money. Called micro-currency or alternative currency this trend is growing in popularity all over 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 different means of trading often become popular during tough economic times. As nationalized money starts to dry up, people still have requirements to be met. Families still need to buy food, they still need to pay bills as well as goods and services. They have needed to devise clever ways to fulfill these needs which are legal and accessible to most average people.

In the US currency is watched over by the federal reserve. Even though Americans can use their money, it does not belong to them. Defacing US currency is a federal crime. Counterfeiting US money is one too. Knowing this, people are surprised to learn of 13 states seeking approval from their collective state governments to start printing their own money.

Another trend growing popular is called bitcoin and litecoin. A big advantage with these is that they remain completely decentralized. They are quick, easy and entirely anonymous across the world. People are than willing to start putting their faith into technology over the traditional economic institutions such as banks.

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 big corporations are getting in on the bandwagon. Companies like starbucks and amazon are now offering starbucks stars and amazon coins. These items can be exchanged for goods and services for each company. In the past other noteworthy companies have also used this approach like marlboro and camel with marlboro miles and camel dollars. Both could be exchanged for novelty items when they were sent into the company.

Most advocates for using an alternative currency believe they are a means of giving power back to the people who otherwise live on the fringe of fiscal success. This gives people like the elderly, disabled and underemployed a chance to at economic freedom. As things begin to get worse and worse it is going to be not so much what you have but what you have that you can exchange for something. And that is what people are banking on in the future.




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