Part 1

Remember that Economics class in high school?  It seems they left out all the important things, like watch out for scam artists such as politicians, lawyers, auto finance managers, real estate brokers, CEO's, housing contractors, etc..  But the one thing that everyone should have learned in class is simply "a penny saved, is a penny earned".  This shouldn't be the case in a perfect society, but unfortunately it's very true in our current consumer type society.  Of course, if everyone held on to their penny, then we would have an economic slowdown or recession.  The system can be beat, if you have enough funds to counter balance the difference and have a keen psychic ability, both of which only a very few people possess.  But imagine for just one moment, that there is no such thing as "currency".  What would our society look like?  Would it be able to survive?  Currently, I don't think we have a chance.  As long as there are rich people in this world, then there must be poor people to counter balance.  In order for our current society to completely do away with currency, most people would have to change, and that is not going to happen anytime soon.  Perhaps our children and grand children will learn from our mistakes.