Cash is king but barter is smarter

Last Updated on Friday, 04 September 2009 11:12 Written by Shawn Dell Joyce Friday, 04 September 2009 11:12

Within every crisis is the opportunity for growth, and the current economic crisis offers a chance to build our local economy after decades of building credit bubble economics.

Many of us are realizing the fallacy of globalism as our country has slipped from an exporter to an importer, and most of our manufacturing jobs have fled our shores. We are so deeply in debt it will be a miracle if we ever get out!

Our culture has come to value wealth in dollars and overlook what real wealth means; community, that sense of belonging to a certain place and calling it home. Most of us would rather live comfortably and know that our friends and neighbors had the same comfort level, than feel that we are separated by wealth from our peers. Most people we think of as rich do not want their wealth to cause poverty for others.

Real wealth and a functional economy mean that we live happy and productive lives in harmony with the Earth, and build strong stable families and communities while keeping the ecosystems that sustain us intact. Real wealth is passing on a healthy planet to the next generation so that they will have what they need to survive.

Economists are beginning to see the wisdom in refocusing the economy from the global to the local, and by extension, revitalizing American communities. David Korten in his recent book; "Agenda for a New Economy, from Phantom Wealth to Real Wealth," writes:

"As challenging as the economic meltdown may be, it buys time to build a new economy that serves life rather than money. It lays bare the fact that the existing financial system has brought our way of life and natural systems on which we depend to the brink of collapse."

So how do we build an economy based on living within the natural limits of our planet?

• Use only today's sunlight! Much of our current environmental crisis comes from using stored sunlight in the form of fossil fuels. If we wean ourselves from the artificial productivity of oil, and rely instead on capturing and using just today's sunlight, wind, tidal and other forms of energy, then we are living within our means and respecting our planet's natural limits and resources.
• Foster cottage industry! So much of our current economy depends on making money from money. We need to foster local industry. Develop industry around local needs, for example; Berkeley restaurateur Alice Waters pays local farms to fill her restaurant's needs rather than ordering meats and produce from outside the community.
• Invest in the community! If a local farm or business is going under, perhaps we can save it by making modest investments. For example, in Morrisville, Vermont, community restaurant paid it's investors with $90 worth of meals each quarter.
• Most of us lost a great deal of the value of our retirement accounts. If those accounts were invested in local sole proprietorships instead of large scale C-corporation global businesses, we would be reaping a rate of return three times higher. Local businesses also offer a unique benefit that a global corporation cannot. They improve the quality of your community. You can always check on your investment when you pass it on your way home every day.
• Barter! Money is a new concept compared to bartering. There are always things we can barter with like homemade preserves, fresh eggs, babysitting and handy-man services, and always things we need that we don't quite have the money for. People who lost their jobs may feel awkward about asking for help. Bartering allows folks to keep their dignity by giving something in return, and also creates local economic impact. It is an ancient and time-honored tradition that helps many people make ends meet.
• Be a good neighbor! When we have to face the trials and tribulations of life alone, they are magnified. When we have the love and help of neighbors, our problems are diminished. Neighborly acts create economic value. If your garden is overflowing, leave a bag of zucchini on your neighbor's porch. If you have an extra pan of lasagna, bring dinner to an elderly neighbor. We all appreciate homemade and homegrown things, and it may make the world of difference to someone who just lost their job.

Shawn Dell Joyce is an award-winning sustainable artist and founder of the Wallkill River School in the mid-Hudson valley of New York. www.ShawnDellJoyce.com