Script and Voucher Systems Alternative to Cashless Society

Although you aren't legally allowed to create a private currency, script and voucher systems can be used as an alternative to out right bartering. Coupons, tokens, vouchers and scripts are legal if they don't look like the official currency or are minted coin from metals. They have been and still are being used like cash in certain communities and there are problems with getting people to use them, but if the government eliminates physical currency, you could go this route on a local or regional basis.

I can see a Bartertown scenario (open air or flea market) where this could work. Exchange goods with intrinsic value for scripts, like say metals, then use the scripts for purchases within the open air market. Any scripts not used could be exchanged for the goods that back the scripts in circulation. Items that have a limited shelf life are normally not used as an exchange commodity. I could see using minted coins, like pre-1981 copper pennies or current nickles, as an exchange commodity. esp. if the government decides to eliminate the penny like they want to eliminate the larger denominations ($100 and $50 bills).

Script

Voucher

Scripts are often used for fundraising activities and many companies offer company scripts, like Disney Dollars and the old timey Green Stamps. There is plenty of historical examples of script and vouchers being used.

There are other private "currencies" like bitcoin, of course that is a cashless deal.


It would be somewhat complex to fix a value to whatever you call your script or vouchers. I suppose that would depend on what was accepted in trade for said vouchers. Services can be exchanged in this way as well, but I imagine that services or commodities that are in the highest demand will be equal to higher value vouchers. If there is a worldwide economic collapse, then runaway inflation would make comparisons to legal tender currencies and metals difficult.

Then there is counterfeiting scripts and vouchers. Perhaps a method of keeping track of serial numbers in addition to watermarks on specially produced paper could do the trick.

It would be complex to do, but it would be like having cash in hand in a local economy. No worrying about runaway inflation, government tracking purchases, getting the Cyprus haircut, or negative interest rates.

(I originally created this thread in Feb 2016 on a now defunct forum known as Hernando' Hideaway).

a reply to: MichiganSwampBuck

Never work unless the gray and black market economies start to accept scrip and vouchers the same way they do cash monies .

a reply to: MichiganSwampBuck

(I originally created this thread in Feb 2016 on a now defunct forum known as Hernando' Hideaway).

Where you still go whenever you need some 'alone time' after perhaps a wee bit too much imbibing.

I think by the time it comes down to bartering the gov. will be prepared to stop any and all who try.
I can see our Red Flag laws turning the country into something similar to the Nazi takeover of Germany one day....rat on your neighbor for a reward.

a reply to: andy06shake

Probably true, this would be a hard one to pull off with other markets doing business with other forms of exchange. Also, it is always a possibility that if scripts and vouchers become popular, then they will be made illegal even though it's legal at the moment.

originally posted by: nugget1
a reply to: MichiganSwampBuck

(I originally created this thread in Feb 2016 on a now defunct forum known as Hernando' Hideaway).

Where you still go whenever you need some 'alone time' after perhaps a wee bit too much imbibing.

I think by the time it comes down to bartering the gov. will be prepared to stop any and all who try.
I can see our Red Flag laws turning the country into something similar to the Nazi takeover of Germany one day....rat on your neighbor for a reward.

Yeah, I get drunk and think I'm going to get lucky and all I find is you there (tee hee hee)

As to the other point, any loopholes you may find usually get filled up esp. if one of our disappearing freedoms is found there.

How about some kind of token on your phone, where the token is secure and you just hold the phone near a payment reader to pay. You get a quick message of your transaction and you can log in and see your spending. it’s not perfect but less open to fraud than some voucher or script, Plus it’s far harder for people carrying out large scale illegal sale of materials to explain where the deposits come from.

Hopefully one day something like this will replace the plastic notes I have had sitting in my wallet for nearly 2 years

a reply to: Tortuga

That exists, it's called MPOC.

originally posted by: AugustusMasonicus
a reply to: Tortuga

That exists, it's called MPOC.

It’s called Apple Pay and I use it almost every day, cash not for over 3 years. I gave my daughter a £10 note I carry to buy a hat from a market stall about a year ago, she digitally repayed me. I only carry this plastic stuff we have for instances where they don’t take cards because they want to avoid letting the tax man know how much they earn.

a reply to: Tortuga

ApplePay (among others) is an MPOC application.

originally posted by: AugustusMasonicus
a reply to: Tortuga

ApplePay (among others) is an MPOC application.

Ok, I didn’t do the course I just loaded the means to pay on my phone.

a reply to: Tortuga

No worries.

I have used chips from my local casino to pay for everything from growlers to gasoline. I also use them for tips at my local beer joint.

Technically, I suppose chips are a form of cash.

a reply to: olaru12

I suppose it would depend on where you are.

Gold and silver seldom lose value, along with a few other things.

But if it all goes breasts up, so do the casinos and hence any value attributed to their chips.

originally posted by: andy06shake
a reply to: olaru12

I suppose it would depend on where you are.

Gold and silver seldom lose value, along with a few other things.

But if it all goes breasts up, so do the casinos and hence any value attributed to their chips.

You have a valid point that many types of exchanges are ultimately based on some form of legal tender currency. Foreign money many be good for awhile, look at how many countries fall back to U.S. currency when their money inflates off the charts. However, if our currency takes a dive or gets cancelled, a lot of countries are going down with it.

originally posted by: nugget1
a reply to: MichiganSwampBuck

(I originally created this thread in Feb 2016 on a now defunct forum known as Hernando' Hideaway).

Where you still go whenever you need some 'alone time' after perhaps a wee bit too much imbibing.

I think by the time it comes down to bartering the gov. will be prepared to stop any and all who try.
I can see our Red Flag laws turning the country into something similar to the Nazi takeover of Germany one day....rat on your neighbor for a reward.

Heh, kind of thought we were already there.

a reply to: MichiganSwampBuck

The truth of the matter is through MichiganSwampBuck if it all goes to hell.

You would be better off with packets of ramen noodles and some water purification tablets as opposed to even gold or silver.......never mind some ammunition and a gun.

If America goes down the pan, chances are the rest of the civilized nations of the world including my own will shortly follow suit.

If they had not done so already, just down to the financial markets collapsing, and the knock-on effect that would most likely occur, so foreign money would probably end up nothing more than toilet paper also.

originally posted by: andy06shake
a reply to: olaru12

I suppose it would depend on where you are.

Gold and silver seldom lose value, along with a few other things.

But if it all goes breasts up, so do the casinos and hence any value attributed to their chips.

idk...but in case of an economic collapse, I doubt if chips would retain any value.

However, I've wondered if gold and silver would be a commodity during the collapse. Who would buy it. I'm thinking of cashing in my metal soon, to beat the rush and buying every pain killer/tranq I can get my hands on, in case I want to cash in my chips.

a reply to: olaru12

idk...but in case of an economic collapse, I doubt if chips would retain any value.

Yeh it's got to be Nuka-Cola caps methinks or I'm just not playing.

However, I've wondered if gold and silver would be a commodity during the collapse.

Certainly not during and in bulk hard to carry and may make you even more of a target.

I'm thinking of cashing in my metal soon, to beat the rush and buying every pain killer/tranq I can get my hands on, in case I want to cash in my chips.

I wish i had some metal to cash in buddy.

Without a doubt, if our world were to fall apart, things like pharmaceuticals, and powder would be in serious demand for both medicinal reasons amongst others.

The only problem is a lot of pharmaceuticals are perishable with the likes of sell-by dates coming into play, and even becoming dangerous if out of date, so you would need to time it just right...........and the world is always going to end, and is predicted to fall apart tomorrow, yet here we remain, or so it seems to me thus far.

a reply to: olaru12

Buy an instant bbq.

originally posted by: Itisnowagain
a reply to: olaru12

Buy an instant bbq.

Welcome back...thanks for the tip! I have built a survivalist styled rocket stove out of tincans and an old steel pressure tank....not instant, but very fast.