Print Your Own Money

Think it's silly? Or illegal? Read on:

Residents from the Milwaukee neighborhoods of Riverwest and East Side are scheduled to meet Wednesday to discuss printing their own money. The idea is that the local cash could be used at neighborhood stores and businesses, thus encouraging local spending.

Believe it or not, it's not illegal.

It's not a new concept—experts estimate there are at least 2,000 local currencies all over the world—but it is a practice that tends to burgeon during economic downturns. During the Great Depression, scores of communities relied on their own currencies.

As long as communities don't create coins, or print bills that resemble federal dollars, organizations are free to produce their own currency.

At the same time they are telling the Federal Reserve - A privately owned corporation - to stuff it.

What a fascinating concept.