PrintingMoney

According to the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office, if America gets rid of its $1 bill and replaces it with a dollar coin, the U.S. will save $5.5 billion on printing costs over the next 30 years. That's a whole lot of dollars.

Everyone now knows the federal government is about to run up against its limit for borrowing money, but everyone also knows that governments can -- and do -- just print the stuff. Washington owns the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. Could the way to sidestep this looming crisis be just making more money?

A group here in Portland has taken the eat local movement one step further and started its own currency. Cascadia Commons has developed Community Way Local Exchange Trading System (LETS), "a non-profit, local community currency that more efficiently provides value to traditional dollars exchanged...