That limitation is supposed to be an asset, it seems. No, you can't use the currency outside the local network. That incentivizes you to use your dollars only for things outside the network, and to go inside the network whenever possible (to make the best use of your overall holdings). You might give up convenience (by going to a local store to by produce rather than ordering from Amazon or a national chain), but then you see the benefits in community vitality.
In the end, this only works if you accept that investing in your local community is more important than saving a few minutes or dollars sending your work-hours-in-the-form-of-dollars to some far-flung exec's pocket. Some people are so well remunerated by the traditional system that I suppose they don't really have to care about all that.
In the end, this only works if you accept that investing in your local community is more important than saving a few minutes or dollars sending your work-hours-in-the-form-of-dollars to some far-flung exec's pocket. Some people are so well remunerated by the traditional system that I suppose they don't really have to care about all that.