How can we save ourselves? National Barter System?

I have been pondering the idea of how we could free ourselves from the grasp of TPTB...

Instead of waiting for a complete crash and resorting to a barter system then, why don't we create one now?

There are a LOT of people who are out of work and at their wits ends NOW. How can a National Barter System be created... ASAP?

How far away is your community from being able to create neighborhood gardens and farmer's markets?

Of course, there are things that just simply must be bought with cash such as pharmaceuticals and so I don't think we can just do away with money altogether (dang!)

I just thought I should put this out there... since I hate the thought of waiting for my fate to be decided by people who may not really have an answer.