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With many countries already heading towards cashless transactions, we are facing some hard decisions. These decisions will be made whether we ignore them or not, so to have a say it is essential to be active. These are not new issues, but they are quickly approaching. Dominic Frisby at The Guardian is the latest to take up some of the pertinent questions around the move to a cashless society.
Poor people and small businesses rely on cash. A contactless system will likely entrench poverty and pave the way for terrifying levels of surveillance.
Source: Why we should fear a cashless world
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In a World Without Cash, Every Payment You Make Will be Traceable
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Remember Darwin; building a better mousetrap merely results in smarter mice.
(Score: 2) by frojack on Friday July 21 2017, @08:45PM (4 children)
We didn't read it the first time so but the same quote in twice?
I use cash less and less. I often forego purchases that I can't do electronically, even if I happen to have the cash in my pocket.
I've never found cash all that convenient. You spend it, you had to make a trip somewhere, bank, ATM, to get more.
I found that as soon as you break that $100 bill, its gone. I'd think twice about spending a hundred, but nothing of spending 5 twenties.
Rather than fear the demise of cash, why not just put in play laws to prevent the abuse of power. You really only have to put one or two
FBI or CIA guys in front of a firing squad (figuratively or literally) to put a stop to the abuses. But first you have to have the balls to pass the laws.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by Lagg on Friday July 21 2017, @08:54PM (1 child)
Haven't other countries proven that doing that shit to the government employees - even if willful and compliant - does the opposite of making an example? If people start thinking they'll get shot because other people don't like them they start doing their own stockpiling. But yeah I avoid carrying too much cash for similar reasons. Plus no reason to have more than a few 20s in your wallet.
In any case, people still need to buy an ounce of heaven's manna every now and then. Closest those have gotten to cashless is integrated ATMs or ATMs directly in a shop. The government itself needs to buy metric tons of illegal (by their own will) drugs or drugs that kill people. And also must accept payment from other such entities. Plus gun running. Plus the "let's just throw bricks of money at it" solution like with the palettes. You can only do so much with those magical "black" accounts before it gets obvious that money isn't put somewhere it should be.
I honestly think the government finds cash more important than we do still.
http://lagg.me [lagg.me] 🗿
(Score: 1) by khallow on Friday July 21 2017, @11:23PM
You can hide a death star in those "black" accounts in the US. So it's not a serious problem for the US.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by Justin Case on Friday July 21 2017, @09:10PM
Because those laws are made by the very people who abuse the power.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by Nuke on Friday July 21 2017, @10:13PM
Failed junior school maths? That's your problem. A greater concern is about maths-challeged people thinking nothing of spending $500 on credit, because nothing actually leaves their pocket at the time.