the three money systems,

and their order of importance according to the alphabet

Barter is the direct exchange of products and services for other products and services. This has been around since antiquity and is the simplest and most direct form of commerce. It' s usually done as a verbal contract or can be written on paper or parchment.

There is no deception here. Both parties are clear on the exchange and any discontent is worked out personally.

Cash can come in various forms: paper, coins, feathers, clams, precious stones or metals, etc. depending on what the society agrees upon or recognizes as money. It is an INDIRECT or REPRESENTATIVE form of money subject to the whims of its creators or directors.

In our modern Western society of the last two hundred years or so, money has been created in paper and coin form. Carrying around or transferring gold and silver or coinage was heavy and burdensome, so notes were created to alleviate this. There is however, a danger to this. Paper money can be forged and easily devalued. Ever since the rogue and illegal Federal Reserve came into being in 1913, the over-printing of money, and the growing and inordinate hunger of banks, has steadily decreased the value of our money. This was especially so after we went off the gold standard in 1972. Still, we basically have some control of what we earn or how to spend it.

With the introduction and proliferation of computers and the internet, Digital currency was created, first in the form of cards. People did not always have to withdraw their money at the bank but used their card instead, and now payments through your computer or digital phone are possible. This convenience, however, comes with certain drawbacks. It relies heavily on the proper functioning of an electrically-based internet and the trust of our financial institutions. This system can easily be hacked or manipulated. Bitcoin, which is also a digital currency, was created to escape the greedy reach of the government, but it too is now becoming infiltrated.

Which money system is better? Barter, cash, or digital? I believe they all have their merit and it should be left up to the individual to choose his or her form of payment. Removing any of these three systems is a mistake. A barterless or cashless society can easily lead to total slavery and control under a ruthless government. Total digitization under corporate control is dangerous and evil. Cash maintains a certain amount of individual privacy and control even though it is far from perfect, and barter is no one else's business.

Since it appears that computers are here to stay, digital forms of currency are inevitable, but this does not mean we should abandon cash or barter. The latter are backups which will preserve our privacy and sanity. All three forms of money -barter, cash, and digital, should be maintained and be working together to serve the various interests and abilities of the people.