Creating A New Economy
posted by ChibiOne | March 18, 2009
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After much thought and discussion, the concept of a complimentary currency has been accepted by my comrades in our start-up company, Apollo Matrix. Although the concept of demurrage was not accepted, the idea of an interest-free exchange of goods/services between a network of cooperative organizations/individuals -- something akin to the Swiss WIR or the Ithaca HOURS -- was virtually leapt upon once it was explained and understood. Everyone agrees that, especially with the looming economic and credit crisis, any company part of a cooperative network of this sort is very likely to have a better chance of survival than one solely reliant upon the ‘legal tender’ of the Federal Reserve.
Therefore, we make this announcement:
Apollo Matrix is willing to do business with any other business/organization/individual using either the standard denominated currency; or, alternatively, an exchange of goods/services -- quantified by the appropriate metrics and bargained to the mutual satisfaction of the parties involved in the trade. Â
A real life example:  Apollo Matrix generally charges by the hour.  We needed photographs of our employees for our Website. One of our clients, a photographer, needed our Search Engine Optimization services, but was in a slump that made affording them difficult. We traded her said services for professional photographs of each employee (a reasonable trade-off, when comparing what she generally charges for a session, and what we charge per-hour for the service). Â
In this system, the services/goods do not necessarily have to ‘trade hands’ immediately. An amount can be contracted for one or both sides. This contract can then, itself, also be traded by the contract holder to another party.
A possible example: If Apollo Matrix required some advertising, it could trade a metric of time for the service -- just as an example 1 minute per click for an online campaign. The company providing the advertising would get a minute of work for every click we get. They could save those promised minutes/hours, and either use them for themselves, say to get us to SEO their site; or they could trade those hours to another company for whatever they felt was fair.
The contract can be resold for ‘real money’ as well, allowing organizations/individuals the opportunity to raise standard capital by offering services they normally cannot, and at a very low price compared to the general market.
A company that sells, say, lumber by weight, could purchase our services for a certain metric of lumber, as only a further example, a ton an hour. Apollo Matrix could then either use that lumber for the construction of a building it needed for itself, or it could trade that lumber to someone else who needed it, or resell that lumber at any price it desired
Any such exchange need not be all one or the other. Any combination of payment types, equitable and agreeable to all participating parties, can be utilized. This also allows ‘members’ of the network to gain certain goods/services at a far cheaper price than the usual market value in pure national currencies.
We accept that this is only a small step, and any parties who participate are invited to join the dialogue and help to create a more comprehensive and equitable system.
This offer stands open to any party willing to accept the responsibilities that it entails.
Anyone interested may contact either ctaylor@apollomatrix.com or bcolligan@apollomatrix.com.
Those interested in what Apollo Matrix has to offer can also check out www.ApolloMatrix.com . In addition to SEO services, we also build Webstores, Websites, and Social Networking sites.
Comments
artists and merchants
— Mar 24, 2009
Hi ChibiOne,
This sounds great.
I'm self employed and I hate that jump between what I make and the act of selling it. It can be a little easier for me because I am working alone, to barter, gift, exchange.
What you propose sounds very interesting.
local vs global
— Mar 24, 2009
what models will actually function?
I beleive there is an application (as in App.)which when applied here it could route us to this alternate currency for specific purposes and be a way to haggle exchange rates for goods to services...
and all metrics to a negotiable median which may be recorded...
and shared through the app.
Well how did Amazon get in the stronghold position.
They made it over many years. I watched them form a business model and forage into cyberspace...
Therefore. Create inspire, direct this energy and let's find the common ground for our ownership of our own circulation through the greater whole.
exchanges
— Mar 25, 2009
how does one handle taxation issues in this kind of exchange situation? what makes a system of reciprical exchanges into a currency? Are loyalty points or air miles tracked and taxed?
also - congrats on your start up. i am curious on your thoughts on Evolver so far, what you use for social networking, criticisms, etc.
perhaps we can find a way to barter for your shop to do some work for us? email if this is interesting to you.
"Will the transformation."-Rilke
I have put these questions
— Mar 27, 2009
I have put these questions before my compatriots, and I will post an answer tomorrow night at the latest. I apologize for the delay.
Daniel, I love the site. =) I think it is exactly what 'our sort' are looking for, which is a place to be heard. It is ironic, but the greatest 'danger' here is being lost in the crowd! It is almost a heady feeling to see so many participating, and the site not even really announced as 'live' yet. Truly, we become yet more Legion by the day. ^_~
I only wish that I had more time to participate in the conversations going on; but as we are able to bring on more help in Apollo Matrix, my responsibilities will at least go back to a reasonably sane 10-12 hours a day, and I will have more time to once again fully discuss these heavy topics, and commiserate with my brethren here. =)
The only thing I would say is to add the ability to set it up so when people comment on your stuff, you get an email...my response would have been far more timely on these comments that way, for one thing. ^_^
Anyway, just a brief comment so you guys know I have read yours, and I will talk with my peeps and get back with you on some of these questions in more detail.
"You must *be* the change you wish to see in the world."
Mahatma Gandhi
Some Answers
— Mar 30, 2009
An Apollo Hour equals $50, or one hour of service from Apollo Matrix.
What we can offer are Search Engine Optimization services, Web development services, and various Internet and telecommunications marketing services. www.ApolloMatrix.com (still a work in progress) can tell you more on that side.
You can invest in Apollo Matrix and buy our Hours upfront, or you can supply us with products and services in exchange for hours.
At this point you can use our services yourself, or resell our hours for $50 apiece (or a higher cost, if you can get it, to make a profit); or trade Apollo hours for products and services from others who are willing. We are also interested in other company’s complimentary currencies (like Wendy’s dollars, company gift certificates, etc).
Our Most immediate need:
1)Writers for blogs on a variety of social networking, Internet marketing, and related topics.
2) Experienced Drupal administrators/developers to help in the creation of our Social Content site template, as well as to add products to some of our Webstores.
3) Graphic designers and visual artists to help create visual content for the sites we are making.
4) We are also interested in resell-able products and service hours or other offers we feel are promising.
Anyone interested, who has the appropriate skills/resources, can let me know and we can work it out. It is all about bargaining and coming to a mutual agreement…which may not always be possible, so both sides need to be realistic and mature about that fact. That, actually, is the main benefit of an actual currency…there’s always something you can give, even if they aren’t interested in anything else you can do. However, we feel that, as the network grows to include more types of businesses, it will become increasingly useful and productive.
I would obviously like to take this to a more local level as well, but I have encountered resistance on the idea because it sounds so ‘naive’ to most I broach the subject with. My hope is that by establishing a network among us that feel this is necessary as ‘proof of concept’, I can then ‘sell’ the idea locally more easily by being able to offer the benefits of this more globally disparate network in the bargain.
Our long term plan is to provide, at no charge, Social Content Websites (RS being a perfect example of such a site) to people who are experts on various subject matter to administrate and provide content for. Apollo Matrix will own the website, but we will split advertising income from banners 50/50 with the Webmaster, whose responsibility it will be to provide content that will bring enough people in to make them money. Anyone interested in this aspect, who would like to run their own Website on a topic of their choice (as long as there are enough other people in the world interested to make it a worthwhile endeavor in terms of Return on Investment…as we get larger, we will be able to take chances on more esoteric topics, but as many sites as possible need to be slam-dunks right at the moment).
Please keep in mind that there are about 10 of us doing all of this, and we are up to the gills in work at the moment. We do not have the resources available to put on any other projects, but if we can get help in exchange for future services (a la the Apollo Hours) to get these clients out the door, we can then get more help and move forward.
It takes about 20 hours to do a decent SEO consultation for a site, but we can give good advice in even 10 hour. Still, people with 20 Apollo Hours have the equivalent of a full SEO consultation that they can barter or trade with other people. We can give 3 hours per article or 2 hours for a piece of good digital artwork, and an even exchange of hours for Drupal administration skills.
Please let me know if you are interested.
As far as the tax question, it is the stickler, as the Apollo Hours would have to be counted as incoming wealth, and hence taxes paid on them. We have thought of a few ways around. One such is to charge a nominal fee of $1, so that it is technically a paid service rather than a ‘giving of wealth’. Still, any help on this issue would be greatly appreciated.
"You must *be* the change you wish to see in the world."
Mahatma Gandhi
I am disappointted....on lack of response
— Apr 03, 2009
Not one individual needs our services?
Apollo Matrix is offering a viable solution to the Currency Crisis and FIAT system.
Will we have to be in the forutne 500 to get a response or just have to open a JAK bank.
If you do not Like our offering please provide a counter offer.
--Bryan Colligan
The future of SEO Apollo Matrix
The behavior of survival, inhibits connecting to the repository of subconscious truth.
I will contact you. =) "You
— Apr 05, 2009
I will contact you. =)
"You must *be* the change you wish to see in the world."
Mahatma Gandhi
Stoked
— Apr 12, 2009
Way to go for taking this on. I am organizing a conference for October that you may be interested in called the Economics of Peace. A major issue we will be addressing is monetary reform and complementary currencies. Check out the website. http://www.praxispeace.org/conference09.php
If your interested maybe we could barter web services (like a new website (-; ) for registration. There are a number of other resources I could turn you on to. Check out http://www.metacurrency.org/. I'm also involved with a global cc incubator called GETS. Let me know if you are interested.
-Chris
Awesome, I will put the
— Apr 12, 2009
Awesome, I will put the offer before my colleagues. =)
There is also Complimentarycurrency.org. It is a great resource as well. Thanks for pointing me towards good literature and information. We want this system to be workable, and we are more than willing to work with others in any system or network already in existence.
"You must *be* the change you wish to see in the world."
Mahatma Gandhi
Newsletter Campaign
— Apr 15, 2009
Hi ChibiOne,
I'm loving this idea, and would love to test it out. I'm in need of a newsletter campaign done in html, sent to a list of addresses I have. I have already done the content of the newsletter, but can't get it to send. ?
In exchange for services, I can do illustration work, concept art, flash CS4 programing, or animation. (2D, flash, claymation) For examples of my work, you can visit my website.
Coutries
— Oct 06, 2009
@ Xavier, It's not necessary to think how much you are worth. I prefer having my own investment, one such American gold coins. And in this way, you are worth a lot! I prefer investing than working as a slave 8 h per day..at least that's the way it's done in my country. That's why all the people tend to get out, even if they embarrass our reputation, and our good people that exist beside the gypsies.
Trying to bump this if anyone is still interested
— Dec 25, 2009
The behavior of survival, inhibits connecting to the repository of subconscious truth.
Get banking support for your project
— Sep 27, 2010
I represent a new form of financial institution that fully understands what it is you are offering here. We are currently in the process of enrolling organizations, businesses and individuals to help us get a charter for Common Good Bank.
Once we have established the bank we will begin organizing local credit exchanges (also modeled after WIR). Time banking will also play a role in Common Good Bank communities.
In addition to providing a clear vision of a reformed economic system the Common Good Bank model harnesses the current drivers. The power of fractional reserve is to be used through a democratic process that determines how money will be created in each local division of the bank.
Further, all profits made by lending will be democratically distributed to schools and nonprofits.
Anyone who understands WIR will most definitely find amazing opportunities with-in a Common Good Banking framework.
You can inform yourselves further at www.CommonGoodBank.com
Or if you have any questions feel free to contact me
rtchinnock@commongoodbank.com
R. Todd Chinnock
Community Division Organizer
Inland Empire, California
www.commongoodbank.com
