There are a few countries like Sweden and India that are pushing more and more towards all digital payments and slowly trying to wean off cash. I think this is terrible for a number of reasons.
The big one is I work on the side as an electrician from my day job. I get paid in cash (it’s usually only like 5-10 hours a week). I save up that money and have been paying my plumber or tile guy for work that I don’t want to tackle on my own at my house. There’s a whole undercurrent of labor and an economy that gets paid in cash that does not need uncle Sam’s prying eyes. I imagine it will be a long time before banks would stop taking cash in countries pushing for everything to be digital, but who knows.
The other reason is the more vulnerable people in society. You can’t tell me that making everything cashless and only payable via smart phone doesn’t massively screw someone over who’s homeless. A lot of people only get by via panhandling and if suddenly they can’t buy food or ride public transit without a phone that is connected to cell service, that is a massive barrier.
Lastly, all cash restaurants and bars. They’re still common in my area. Things are usually a little cheaper there and I like paying cash for a few drinks. Or like the one bar I go to is still kinda lawless haha, a PBR is $2.
There are a few countries like Sweden and India that are pushing more and more towards all digital payments and slowly trying to wean off cash. I think this is terrible for a number of reasons.
The big one is I work on the side as an electrician from my day job. I get paid in cash (it’s usually only like 5-10 hours a week). I save up that money and have been paying my plumber or tile guy for work that I don’t want to tackle on my own at my house. There’s a whole undercurrent of labor and an economy that gets paid in cash that does not need uncle Sam’s prying eyes. I imagine it will be a long time before banks would stop taking cash in countries pushing for everything to be digital, but who knows.
The other reason is the more vulnerable people in society. You can’t tell me that making everything cashless and only payable via smart phone doesn’t massively screw someone over who’s homeless. A lot of people only get by via panhandling and if suddenly they can’t buy food or ride public transit without a phone that is connected to cell service, that is a massive barrier.
Lastly, all cash restaurants and bars. They’re still common in my area. Things are usually a little cheaper there and I like paying cash for a few drinks. Or like the one bar I go to is still kinda lawless haha, a PBR is $2.
Yeah those are all pretty valid. Going cashless requires a lot more from society than just giving everyone an app.
lmao you should see how cheap liquor is in asia.