Wall Street Journal on Local Currency

Here's a nice piece from the Wall Street Journal on complimentary and bottom-up currencies, including a terrific last third on Life Inc and my local success story, Comfort Dollars.

Comments

[mika.]

Closer to the heart

And the men who hold high places
Must be the ones to start
To mould a new reality
Closer to the heart

The blacksmith and the artist
Reflect it in their art
Forge their creativity
Closer to the heart

Philosophers and ploughmen
Each must know his part
To sow a new mentality
Closer to the heart

You can be the captain
I will draw the chart
Sailing into destiny
Closer to the heart

http://tinysong.com/78yO

[Greg]

Anyone notice that every single person in this clip is white? Just what we need... another scheme for white people to get richer and control more resources.

[Anthony Landreth]

Awesome! Glad that the topic is moving into the mainstream.

[John R. Sedivy]

Hi Doug - This is a great video and interview! I especially enjoyed the graphics of the centralized and decentralized trading - very powerful images!

Since moving my business to Cape Cod I noticed there is a large amount of bartering that occurs here. I believe the culture has probably always been here to some extent, however I think the recession has caused an even greater increase in bartering.

At first I dismissed bartering having been a little nervous about the concept. Over time however I began to see this as a very powerful means to exchange value as an entrepreneur and small business owner. When one barters with another person - in order for it be successful in the long term - each person consistently strives to ensure there is equal value being provided and received on each side. If not, the deal will begin to feel lopsided and will eventually unravel.

I wonder - why can't traditional businesses or even corporations continually strive for equality in trading value?

Perhaps over time the consumer will demand this and this will be a coming evolution of business brought about by a collaboration between socially responsible business owners and frustrated consumers.

I plan to post a blog article about this video tomorrow morning - thanks for sharing this video which led me to ideas of my own!