(12) It isn't vulnerable to the rises and crashes of the global economy.
Research this. Most people that use Local Currencies use both "US dollar" and "local dollars". Obviously, they have to. Yet imagine a contract between you and a local farmer to do business. Perhaps you can pay some money (the cost of the meat/produce) while also doing the farmer a service? For example, his daughter is failing math and you have a great ability to teach children math.
It's a "win-win" situation. He is supporting you nutritionally while you are supporting his business while also supporting the work of others in your community, both now and into the future.
Is a farmer's produce better than what you buy in the grocery store? Ask him. He should be able to tell you what benefits you can have in buying his food. I for one KNOW (direct experience!) that local foods are healthier for you.
So, do we continue not knowing who is producing our food and how? How do we know how healthy food is? Do we look at the labels? Do you often read chemicals that you don't know anything about?
Could it be that going local can be empowering and even healthier, for you and those you love? How would it affect your community?
This does not mean we move immediately beyond the federal dollar. If we did, we would be hurting ourselves. It means we vary the economy for this time we live in. It also means that we can get past big corporations and begin supporting more local businesses that can take both alternative currencies alongside the national standards!
Consider this piece on Ithaca Hours:
Paul Glover explained his currency system, Ithaca Hours. The value is based on the average hourly wage of the community, which is ten dollars an hour. An Ithaca Hour is equal to ten U.S. dollars and is equated to one hour of time. The idea is that everybody deserves to be paid at least the average wage, regardless of education, age, sex, or race. Ithaca's money sports images of local features like waterfalls, flowers, crafts, farms, and children; and reads, "In Ithaca we trust" (see illustrations). It comes in four denominations: two Hours ($20), one Hour, Half Hour, and a Quarter Hour. They are printed in different colors and some come on locally made watermarked cattail paper. All have serial numbers and are harder to counterfeit than dollars.
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