Forum Post: The use of local currencies could weaken the power of the banks
Posted 13 years ago on Oct. 18, 2011, 6:46 a.m. EST by candlelighter
(16)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
I think a way to weaken the banks could be the use of local currencies. They were extremely successful (e.g the Wörgl experiment) in history and some regions in Europe start to implement them again. The wikipedia article gives a good overview on this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Local_currency#Historical_local_currencies
Imagine if people in regions would bundle efforts and start local currencies as an antithesis to the existing money systems in the world.
Maybe this could be the beginning of something. What do you think?
Exactly, and nobody could take advantage of the Central bank, charge interest and compound interest respectively produce inflation.
At the moment it is enough when people play with it, check out if it works for them and make a statement to the bankers. At least people interact, talk about the important issues and have a good time. Maybe it is going to be more :)
I think this would be great when combined with directly democratic local councils. It could be terraced, as well, in that local councils could send representatives to higher councils and so on. Money could be minted at whatever level and higher councils could set exchange rates!
I found a website with some more information: http://www.lietaer.com/2010/03/the-worgl-experiment/
Oh my gosh, that's a great idea!!!
There is an excellent test bed at Zuccoti Park. Why not implement it there and report back on progress?
It's a great idea but I think we also need to take into consideration that the world is becoming a global village right now. So somehow we need to use technology to tie it all together. By doing that we will also move forward.
If we know that they work definitely on a smaller level, providing a money system without interest and compound interest, and without the Fed, why not trying it? At least it makes people interact and create an alternative to the current misery. Diversity (in production, money, food etc.) is freedom standardization is control.
I have glanced a bit at some trends in local currencies such as Ithaca Hours. It seems to offer stability within the communities which use them, but it also seems implausible to operate efficiently in large cities. There are clear similarities in the size, education level, as well as other demographics of cities which have relative success with alternative currencies. It could be worth hearing from someone much more educated on the subject. Are there any economists reading?
I think it would work, especially in smaller regions
crank policy next, will not work
Why wouldn't it work?
Need the Fed to regulate money supply as politicians are incapable of doing it in rational matter as politicians are incapable of doing certain things
Who said anything about politicians?
Think average citizens be happy with Goldman Sachs, Citibank, Well Fargo have to come to the rescue it would make more oblivious. Without central Banks it would be enlightened billionaires coming to the recuse banking crisis instead of the fed.
The Federal Reserve is a private banking cabal. They are the enemy.
But people could organize money supply by themselves in local areas. We don't need this big central thing
It will never work as markets need rational signals to function correctly.
Very general and theoretical statement. The fact is it did work in history and was so successful that the Governments were afraid to loos control over the people. I found a website with a description: http://www.lietaer.com/2010/03/the-worgl-experiment/
Image Europe before the Euro going country to country, city to city having to exchange currency. Greece would really be devalue the currency if they did not have the EU to force them to keep within their means. Person would need to carry 20 different currencies when buying food or hotel room. Central banks provide rational singals to the markets as market can act crazy from time to time.
The thing is we already have centralized banking, does it really work? No!
1) Local currencies do not have to substitute the whole money existing there can be a standard currency in parallel 2) At the moment it is a way to weaken the power of the Central Banks which were not only a blessing to the nations since they came into existence (to be diplomatic) 3) I travelled in Europe before the Euro came and we also managed buying something and it was even fun to have a diffenent money 4) It would provide a system without inflation, interest and compund interest.
Thanks for your reply. I think local currencies would support the idea of independent states and regions. But what to do if the Fed has the monopoly?
It's a fantastic idea. As it stands, the Federal Reserve has been given a monopoly on currency in the US.