Tribe.net. Local Connections Mark http://alt-money.tribe.net/thread/fe8f58ad-d6bd-4c4e-9279-fc152ebbde6e#b5d693e1-c3b7-415d-89e6-94cec6ba279a 2009-07-02T21:32:25Z 2009-07-02T21:31:47Z

I'll just add that during WW II, Americans very commonly traded in Ration Coupons. They felt they were all in the same boat and shared what they had. So if one had gasoline vouchers and another offered a ride to work, the voucher was gifted; or if one had coffee vouchers but needed gasoline and didn't drink coffee then that was traded, etc. There is precedent for Americans using this kind of alternative currency.

Mark 2009-07-02T21:31:47Z Mark http://alt-money.tribe.net/thread/fe8f58ad-d6bd-4c4e-9279-fc152ebbde6e#3a5f2701-a338-45ae-8eb5-6699cbc5f9a7 2009-07-02T21:08:56Z 2009-07-02T21:08:56Z

That's why I think the Fed Reserve Bank note is convenient and popular. But so are local currencies where communities have them. And people have been known to trade in frequent flyer miles... but only if they are valuable to the individuals involved. Now volunteer-service banking, that's interesting, but not necessarily convenient.

Mark 2009-07-02T21:08:56Z B http://alt-money.tribe.net/thread/fe8f58ad-d6bd-4c4e-9279-fc152ebbde6e#07669763-1c46-4c54-ac0b-0a18bee33f44 2009-07-02T18:37:06Z 2009-07-02T18:37:06Z

I believe that if a currency that you can carry in any amount that would be hard to find, hard to counterfeit and hard to trace were available then many people would gravitate to it.

B 2009-07-02T18:37:06Z Mark http://alt-money.tribe.net/thread/fe8f58ad-d6bd-4c4e-9279-fc152ebbde6e#358f21d2-8d34-4cdc-a786-b7c1f29fa890 2009-07-02T16:51:01Z 2009-07-02T16:51:01Z

I really prefer to carry around paper. Someone else's accounting doesn't feel desirable as a universal currency. Sometimes the card is convenient, but I really prefer the cash. Something tangible. That said, I'm totally ok with gold, alternative currencies, etc.

Mark 2009-07-02T16:51:01Z B http://alt-money.tribe.net/thread/fe8f58ad-d6bd-4c4e-9279-fc152ebbde6e#8522de38-4e07-4477-814d-7bef1baac799 2009-07-02T12:39:13Z 2009-07-02T12:39:13Z

A recent MSM article gave an industry figure that more Americans are now using debt cards than credit cards. Something like 52% to 48%. (Who use cards). Does this mean people are now in the mindset to start looking at alternatives to the dollar as well?

B 2009-07-02T12:39:13Z