I've been starting to think more of Bitcoin as Whuffie or a way of measuring barter-based transactions as well, FWIW.
I had to google it- Whuffie. Awesome link- thanks
My thinking on the subject still has not completely gelled, but as hard as we push "Gold Coins are cash" I think it poses much more of a threat to established institutions when framed that way than as Whuffie/Cookies etc.
Bitcoins- as American as barn raising with the neighbors and an homemade apple pie for looking after the kids for an afternoon.
"With so many American's out of work, it's nice to have a system that reflects rolling up your shirt sleeves and breaking a sweat for your neighbor- even if it is your internet neighbor." Maybe a few stories about frugal middle American house wives using Bitcoins to put more nutritious food on the table during hard times...
Bitcoins have a technical explanation, what they need is an image makeover and a compelling narrative. Something better then hipsters buy heroin with it or the tin hat patrol sticking it to the Man (or Dominatrixes whipping guys for it
)...http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/24/stories-vs-statistics/
http://www.weblog.keepthejointrunning.com/?p=277