Money

[Janice]

Do you think if we got rid of all paper and coins, we would eliminate a lot of problems.

Say, everything had to be paid with some sort of card, credit or bank.

Would this put a stop to paying cash for drugs, prostitution, illegals items?

Would it go against our civil rights if there was a record on these cards about everything we purchased?

Would you be against this?

[coriolis]

Those are the reasons that people use to get rid of cash.

Once it's all electronic, we are vulnerable to breakdowns in the technology as well as mis-use of the technology. There's been a lot said about 666 and all that, but I don't want to get into that right now.

IMO, eliminating cash will not get rid of those social problems, people are addicted to drugs, sex, or whatever will find ways to get their fix.

Yes it would go against our civil rights (as I see 'em) if there was a record on these cards about everything we purchased. Maybe nobody cares that I bought 15 Big Macs yesterday, but what if I'm renting really borderline dirty movies. Someone could use that against me later. Or what if I have a pattern of buying books by leftist authors. Say we get a fascist government. They're going to go through all the records of patterns of book buying. I'd be targeted as an enemy of the state. Or maybe I've bought a lot of bibles and books by christian authors. Same idea.... You could put layers of protection in to make the purchases anonymous, but it could be abused by either disgruntled workers, or by various malefactors in high places.

OK I didn't want to go there, but I did.

Yes I would be vehemently against it.

Next question.

[kevin]

For most of the same reasons as coriolis I would also oppose the removal of tangible money.

And no it would not stop the buying of illegal materials. All that money is, is an abstract entity that represents 'excess goods' that everyone desires. You see for barter I would need to find someone who needed a cow AND had something I wanted. What money does is just makes it so I have to find someone who has something I want, because they will of course want the money.

As soon as 'money' isn't allowed, barter emerges. You'd just have to give something tangible for the drugs or for the prostitute.

I'm more frightened of the government or someone who has control of my money than drug dealers and prostitutes, even missiles.

[Janice]

Yes, you are probably right. We may see a change in coins, but the currency will probably always be here. There are just too many places now where only coins and currency can be used. Food machines, tolls (some used stickers on their windows) and for low priced items.

[gtalum]

There are factions that would love the removal of paper money, the IRS for one. That said, the government, while it may love to eliminate currency, won't do it because that would drive the black market further underground as they would just trade in foreign currency or even gold.

[coriolis]

They could get rid of pennies, but even that might be psychologically damaging, and it could push inflation.


You want to raise some eyebrows? Pay cash for a large purchase. Just for fun, I decided to pay $4000 cash for a car once. The bank branch didn't have that much on hand in $100 bills! All the bank tellers acted funny - and they knew me!

I found that any cash transaction over $10,000 must be reported under anti-money laundering laws. there's also a connection with Homeland Security too.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bank_Secrecy_Act
In Canada:
http://www.fintrac.gc.ca/reporting--dec ... LCTR_e.asp


Does anyone not think that we're giving up some freedom for safety?

[tropicana]

I wish we didn't need money at all! In any form.

I've often thought of what a wonderful life it would be if our lives didn't revolve so much around money, and for even the ones who don't obsess about money, we actually need money to live.

I just wish we didn't. Just everyone will help out each other, we will have things without money, people will work for fun because they enjoy it..and they can be anything they wanna be... we can do anything we wanna do...go anywhere we wanna go, have anything we wanna have.

*ok justin wake up now and stop dreaming*

*sigh*

[gtalum]

Money is what allows us to specialize. Without it, we'd live much more limited lives with shorter lifespans and poor health.