July 28, 1999
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M IL L E N N IA
A
C a s
C O U N T D O W N
K l e s s
S
o
c
i e
t y
I m a g in e
ter clubs in the world and many that
is not. There is hundreds of barter
Contributing Writer
clubs in this country. One of the
2K poses a problem for fi exchanges in the Portland area is
nancial institutions handling the C ascad ia H our E xchange
your money. We live in a very (CHE). They have excellent guide­
lines that make up the prin­
complex society where there aren’t
any guarantees to what may happen to ciples and concepts that CHE
our money. Gold and Silver are no participants agree to. They are
longer the dominant form of money. as follows:
1. Cascadia Hour Exchange
■Bookkeeping and paper have long re­
place it. Money has been redefined by stimulates local business by recy­
cling our wealth that is backed up
the market place.
First, it is generally believed that, by real capital, skills, goods, and
worldwide, thirteen families own and services.
2. Participation in the Cascadia
control the IMF (International Mon­
Hour
Exchange (CHE) opens the
etary Fund). They are the lenders to
door
to
meet new opportunities.
many governments and federal banks
It
also
builds
rich and rewarding
around the world. These families con­
friendships
and
creates better lo­
trol about 1/3 of the world’s money,
cal
economic
communities.
A
which is distributed mostly through
community
based
on
high
values
electronic transfers.
of ethics, integrity and standards
Secondly, state gov-
that develop deep trust in one
ernments, with the
another.
power to tax, own or
3. Participation is free.
control about Mi of the
4. CHE scrip is traded directly
world’s wealth. This is
with all other participants.
mostly in the form of
5. CHE scrip may be traded
real property. They
for
certificates with approved ap­
collect property taxes on held prop­
plication.
erty. State government has a great deal
6. The CHE scrip trades with­
of power and wealth; however, that
out
fees or dues.
control doesn’t mean that the politi­
7.
This scrip is a valuable ac­
cians own it.
counting
technique to keep track
Finally, we come to the wealth of
of
your
trade
of goods and or
the people. The people and private
businesses (businesses not owned by services as well as your time.
8. Each participant is respon­
governments) own about 1/5 of the
world's wealth. Most of this is sible for his or her own account­
through contractual ownership of ing and taxes, as required by law.
9. Each participant that takes
real property. Some of the largest
businesses in the world are owned part in a transaction shall deter­
and operated by the officers and its mine the percent age of CHE scrip,
employees. A number of them are certificates, or cash involved.
10. CHE scrip is as good as the
household names. Also, private in­
participant
involved. Therefore,
vestors own a number of other busi­
provide
quality
goods and services.
nesses and property.
11.
CHE
participants
are not
By now you may wonder what
required
to
take
part
in
the
CHE
does this have to do with the Y2K
events.
Anyone
that
provides
fix and your money? A whole lot.
The sooner businesses and govern­ goods or services may receive and
ment get their act together the bet­ use the CHE scrip.
12. You alone are responsible
ter off people will be financially. If
for
any
trade that you may make.
your money vanishes in some elec
At
all
times
you are responsible
tronic hole somewhere you would
for
your
actions.
be insolvent. This leads me to the
The about CHE guidelines
next form of business. This form is
give
an excellent overview of how
a practice of trading goods and ser­
businesses
interlock in support­
vices with other businesses without
ing
the
economic
strength of a
the use of money.
In the Portland area and most of community. No business can sur­
the world barter is practiced. The vive for long without other busi­
largest governments on down to the nesses and the consumers buying
smallest business or individual uses their products. This is one of the
barter. The reason that it is still a main reasons why only one sys­
large part of our culture is that it is tem of “money” doesn’t work well
not dependent on money. No mat­ for long by itself. In our complex
ter how poor the economy is, barter society things can change very«
thrives. There are thousands of bar- fast. Fortunately, there are many I
By Don Hof
Y
systems in place to pick up the slack
when anyone of them fails.
Don H o f is the founder o f Cascadia
H our Exchange program in P ortlan d H e
can be contacted by phone a t 5 0 3 / 2 9 7
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