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THE PROBLEM WITH MONEY

We all know the basic problem with normal or conventional money - it's the same for all of us - there's not enough of it around when we need it.

For you and I, there's not enough to fix the car, for those new shoes, or for a vacation; or maybe not enough to feed the family.

For business, there's not enough to open the new store, develop the new product, give the staff a raise - or maybe not enough to stay in business.

For government, there's not enough in the tax base for social programs, for schools and hospitals, or to balance the budget.

There may be plenty of money somewhere, but not around here.

THINK ABOUT IT

It's really inevitable, given the way money works. There are three things we know for sure about normal money:

it can go almost anywhere - and it does

it's scarce - there's only so much of it

it comes from somewhere else - we don't make it here

The amount of money in circulation is limited, and it can go anywhere, so it's obvious there will be times when there just isn't enough around here.

IT'S THE SAME THE WHOLE WORLD OVER

Communities everywhere - towns, cities, and even countries - often run short of money, simply because it went somewhere else.

And when the money's gone, it means unemployment, both of human and of other resources. People are unemployed even though they want work and there really is plenty of work that needs doing.

But, with a shortage of money in the local economy, business is slack, investment is weak, and government has little or no room to manoeuvre.

And yet ..

MONEY IS ONLY INFORMATION

It's been a long time since the country's money was anything of "real" value - gold, silver or something else precious in itself.

Nowadays, money is just a ticket system - cheap metal coins, paper bills and cheques, or just records in some bank computer.

Money has become a form of social information, something of absolutely no value in itself that we use to measure how we value other things, including our time.

NO INCHES TODAY?

It's understandable that there should be shortages of real things, like bricks, fuel, skilled labour, or food, but why should we ever be short of measurements, short of gallons, degrees or pounds?

Why should the economy fall into recession and people be unemployed, merely from a lack of money, when money is nothing but tickets and measures?

That would be like having everything needed to build a house - but not building because we ran out of inches. We have plenty of wood, but sorry, we have no inches today.

Obviously, this is nonsense.

COMMUNITY MONEY

But while this problem can't be solved by more government money, we can very easily and quite legally start a community currency.

All the local problems caused just by a lack of money can be resolved by creating new money for that community - a money that circulates within the community, supporting the local economy, the business environment, the job market and the tax base.

When it is organised as a simple set of accounts, like a bank, there are further benefits -

the amount of money in circulation regulates itself

the money comes from the energy and commitment of people and business in the community - not from any external agency

it's easy AND cheap to operate

Simply, it's your own money in your own community.

HOW IT WORKS

Community money works just like a virtual bank or credit union. It is a mutual credit network where you can only use your account to trade with other members.

It's another bank account for community money, where every dollar you spend goes around the community, employing local people - and then comes back to you. It's a true money back guarantee.

Usually, most transactions are made using both the community money and the normal currency, because goods that are brought into the community must be paid in fed$. And of course, taxes must also be paid. For example, a $40 restaurant meal would cost cc$20 and $25.60 at a 50% rate of cc acceptance.

In general, everything can be available at least in part for the new money, according to the proportion of its cost that is value added in your community, such as labour, locally produced goods, and local government services.

EXPLORING AN IDEA

People play games - for fun and for profit. You can test something in a game without risk and with plenty of time to think.

LETSplay takes only a few minutes a day for a week or so and it lets you see exactly how a community money system works.

You learn all you need to know about such systems - how they work, why they are useful, how to keep in balance, and, most important, how easy it is to avoid all risk.

THE FIRST QUESTIONS

Is this really workable? For the community in general and for you personally?

If it is workable, then the potential benefits are extraordinary.

This is a question you really need to answer for yourself - and you can do this with just an hour of your time simply by playing the game.

Do you think it's worth the effort?

Do you want to play?

let's play!


 

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