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| -Land of the Free |
| Town & Country 2019 story - 'Is This the End of Cash?' |
| 2022-09-11 |
| [Town & Country] In our steady march toward an all-digital world, an ever-growing array of tangible forms of communication and culture—from printed books and newspapers to handwritten letters (imagine!) to DVDs—are being relegated to history’s dustbin. And now we’re on the cusp of arguably the biggest transition yet: ditching cold, hard cash for a future in which all money is digital. Actually, it might seem we’re already a good ways along. Just look at our exploding use of credit and debit cards: In 1990 debit cards in the U.S. were used for 300 million purchases; today the total exceeds 40 billion. Swipe technologies like Apple Pay are taking off, as are person-to-person apps such as Venmo and Zelle. Other technologies, involving things like microchip implants, fingerÂprint scans, and facial recognition, are even eliminating the need for phones and smartwatches. In some places using cash is beginning to feel as outmoded as mailing a check to pay your electric bill. |
| Posted by:Besoeker |
| #9 When an EMP takes out our networks, what then? The only reason one hasn’t hit already is Brandon, why go to war when he will destroy the USA? |
| Posted by: Papa Cooky 2022-09-11 13:47 |
| #8 And, #6, those nice plastic cards won't do much good when the systems are down. The point then is to not be letting the people left holding the cards watch you pay for a full buggy with cash. |
| Posted by: M. Murcek 2022-09-11 13:04 |
| #7 Spun up a nice cash hoard in a safe for my parents prior to Y2K. Didn't turn out to be necessary, but the habit remains and it's a worthwhile one. |
| Posted by: M. Murcek 2022-09-11 13:02 |
| #6 Cash whenever possible, always when travelling and dining out. Have recently begun building a significant cash on hand store as the world looks more and more chaotic. When I shop at Wally World I marvel at the number of people who use debit cards, EBT and SNAP transactions that tap out towards the end of the month. Last week a woman used two cards and cash to finish the transaction, Tragic to watch people that broke and in debt for groceries. |
| Posted by: NoMoreBS 2022-09-11 13:00 |
| #5 For the longest time my lovely wife would mail postcards to herself. Testing the rusty mailboxes to see if they still worked. |
| Posted by: Skidmark 2022-09-11 08:48 |
| #4 You know how I'm old fashioned, but adjusted to present realities? I mail in checks to pay utilities, credit card bill, but I walk my bill payment mailings into the post office to avoid "mailbox fishing." |
| Posted by: M. Murcek 2022-09-11 08:00 |
| #3 In some places using cash is beginning to feel as outmoded as mailing a check to pay your electric bill. I'm outmoded then. These urban folks need to go to a rural community and watch the local drug store, supermarket, et al with lines at the service desk who pay their utility bills in cash. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2022-09-11 07:25 |
| #2 And if all transactions are digital you will not be able to buy a firearm or ammunition. |
| Posted by: Airandee 2022-09-11 07:17 |
| #1 Tens of thousands of new federal agents will be needed. Starbucks wins contract for re-purposed bank drive-up windows. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2022-09-11 03:37 |