Let's Look Again at the Barter

In a number of communities, progressive survivalists are initiating barter or exchange systems. And looking at recent financial news stories, this may be the way to go.

Money, as we know it, is quickly losing its value. What little most of us have is getting lost in the stock market, mutual funds, and the bond market. Banks and Brokerage firms are going out of business. Where do we go?

Do we buy land and hold on to it? Will land that we can't afford to build house on or grow crops on help us to get through a financial crisis that seems to be looming at our doorsteps?

Many of us would probably only have enough money to make the down payment on land. If we were to be hit with another financial depression, where would we find cash to make those additional 20 to 30 years of monthly mortgage payments, along with property insurance and taxes?

No, we with a few dollars in savings or individual retirement plans must find the best ways we can to preserve the small dollars (or other currency we use), which means only buying with money what we absolutely must.

This is where barter comes into the picture. We all have 168 hours a week of time. Only around 40 are used to exchange for money. Let's add another 56 hours to sleep, and we still have 72 hours a week left over for housework, fun, meals, transportation and whatever else we choose to do. That's an average of more than 10 hours a day, time not spent on working for pay or sleeping. Of that, let's be sure we reserve a good five hours a day just for us. Now we have 37 hours a week of time that we can barter with our new currency, time.
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We can put that extra time into the time bank, the hour bank or into a green dollar system. Whatever you call it, it's a system that may become more popular as our economy dips deeper and deeper into the red

Some cities, such as Ithaca, NY, call time that is exchanged with others as Time Dollars. This is one of the older exchange systems in the USA. But it is just one example of communities throughout the world that have made lemonade when life served them a bunch of lemons.

In Asheville, NC, residents there have initiated a program called Asheville LETS (Local Exchange Trading System), which was their answer to regional unemployment and increased costs of living in that community.

Fourth Corner Exchange Inc, based in the Pacific Northwest USA, was founded in 2002 by Francis Ayley and a group of like minded friends. According to Wikipedia, there are presently over five-hundred and fifty members in Bellingham WA, Port Townsend WA, Everett WA, Mt Vernon WA, Portland OR.

Recently, Fourth Corner Exchange has spread to other parts of the USA, notably California, New Mexico, Colorado and Ohio.

Ayley tells a story about why he is so passionate about this new (although really an ancient) system by relating it to what happened in the Great Depression. He says that his grandmother talked about starving and homeless unemployed people while just 20 miles away farmers were burning their produce and milk because there were no markets for them.

He questioned his audience if this made sense in human terms.

With Four Corners and other exchange systems like it, time can be exchanged for food and vice versa. You lose your job? Then you go to your LETS system. You barter your skills to others who have what you need.

This system isn't one sent from heaven. It does have holes in the system. Some people are more dedicated, while others, like in all systems, may try to take advantage of others' honesty. But after all, nothing can completely change human nature.

Nevertheless, in times like these, when most average citizens don't know where to turn while unstable markets eat away at savings, it may be comforting to know that you live in a community with a back-up system just in case. And if your community doesn't have such an alternative economy, you may want to be the first to call a meeting among local activists.

You can get more information at: www.fourthcornerexchange.com, www.AshevilleLETS.com, and www.ithacahours.org.

Rachael Bliss, after working for 10 years in creative services and community affairs at a local broadcasting station, moved into the nonprofit world with her first job with the Southern Poverty Law Center in Montgomery, AL. From there she advocated for the hungry, children and the environment as an organizer and director. Articles by Rachael Bliss at MWC News http://mwcnews.net/RachaelBliss

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