There are many parts to Bitcoin and crypto-currencies that you should think about to understand Bitcoin.
Before I knew about Bitcoin, I was slowly learning about money. I looked into community currency solutions. If you think about it, Bitcoin is a community currency, but the community is world wide on the Internet.
The people who study community currencies say that a lack of currency locks up an economy and that creating other currencies decreases poverty. The more that we are able to work and trade the better things are for everyone. When no one has any money there is less trade and maybe a few attempt direct barter.
Cryptoversity is a good place to learn more about Bitcoin and crypto-currencies.