Does anyone really think we are headed for a cashless society?

Question

The ceo of VISA wishes that by 2012 the US becomes a cashless society. Is this really possible? The US coin mints and currancy printers are owned by the government not banks.

Even though I have 2 credit cards and a debit card I hardly use them. I use my credit card only for big ticket purchases. I only use my debit card at the ATM to withdraw money.

Some of my co-workers have poor credit and can't even open up a checking account. My co-workers go to a check cashing store to cash their checks.

I like to hold onto money and keep track of my spending. Everytime I buy coffee out, eat out or even buy gas I prefer to pay cahs and not have to deal with large credit card bills or drain my checking account paying with a debit card.

I'm a alone feeling this way? If I went to a restuarant and they only accepted credit/debit cards and no cash I would leav and not give that restuarant my bussiness.

Answer 1

Its happend befor so why not?

Answer 2

yes

Answer 3

I hope we aren't, in fact, I'd like there to be less credit use overall. Digital money can easily lead to over-inflation, which is very dangerous. In fact, the United States needs to return to a Gold Standard.

Answer 4

Cashless, no I highly doubt it. There will always be rich people and a lot more in 1st world countries like Canada and U.S. will always make money and spend money, thus consumers and that's the way our life runs. As long as there's other countries demanding our products (which there always will be) life will exist. We'll find a way; with a new president and a possibility of a “green" future money will stay be flourishing and useful as always. Now gas being way over a dollar by 2012, I don't doubt.

Answer 5

i had an economics teacher explain a hypothetical cashless society once...it actually sounded kind of cool to me, but a bit too creepy once i thought about it...basically, all money earned would go directly into an account and you would have to use the card for the account any time you wanted to make a purchase...it would be more like credits than actual money or dollars or whatever...say you earn like 8 bucks an hour, it would be 800 credits per hour...it would help protect against theft, perhaps...

also, i read a book called "he, she, and it" about a futuristic earth, and all of their money is put into an account and whenever they make a purchase you have your palm scanned...only way to steal money then would be to cut someone's hand off...i forget who wrote it, but it was a very interesting book...

but seriously, i think it's creepy to have everything done electronically...i'd probably do better with it, though...i lose money all the freaking time...

Answer 6

What the heck is wrong with you, are you Amish?

There is absolutely no difference between using cash or using a debit card.  I am actually the exact opposite of you in that I refuse to go to a restaurant/gas stations/store that does NOT accept credit cards.  It is far more accurate, far LESS prone to theft and would eliminate the need for paper money.

I don't use a credit card very often, just for big ticket items that I need a few months to pay off, but the debit card...man i can't remember the last time I even had a $20 bill in my pocket!

Answer 7

well , yes no doubt . checks are almost gone..alot of jobs require to open a bank account and you earning is drafted in to it ..   it is going to happen soon.. also the government will push for it .. that way no one can earn any money that they can hide form being taxed .. if you make $10 bucks from baby sitting .. the government will get the part .. every cent you earn, spend, or have  will only be a key stroke away .. they will know more about  you than you do. what you spend and where you spend it .. will be in a data base somewhere for big brother to see......  those Si Fi future movies are coming to be..one day closer everyday...

Answer 8

I think so. It'll always be an option, though..

Answer 9

The CEO of Visa "WISHES",more like dreams, in his wildest.

Don't forget, credit cards get paid on a PERCENTAGE.  Amercia will never, ever, ever, be a cashless culture, ever.

Answer 10

THIS IS THE PRICE FOR TECHNOLOGY MADE IN INDIA, CHINA, RUSSIA, GERMANY AND OTHER COUNTRIES....for now we will still keep the high paying job of servers, cashiers, bank tellers, front desk personnel, salesman group.....after all we dont want to send this "high paying jobs overseas" and besides that this new generation need only learn by using cel phones, ipods, mp3, tattoos, piercings, dress like weirdos and have their hair like they came out of a dementia hospice, like someone has said: "this is your sign"!

Answer 11

i'm afraid that's where we are heading.. in fact you can now use your cellphone to pay your bills.. it's similar with the paperless transaction being practice right now.. transactions like these can be easily hacked like the one that happened with citi.. hope they will invest on security..

i didn't experience yet that paying cash in a restaurant is not accepted nowadays..

Answer 12

I am moving to Luxembourg this winter!

Answer 13

I think if we tried, we'd fail miserably

Like my mother has a bad history at banks and has no credit so she'd be up a creek...and I know there are tons of people like that ...so I dont know. I think sometimes we should go back to bartering and just do away with currency all together

Answer 14

If you got cash in your pocket.....it ends up getting spent.  IMO...

And you usually have no record or receipts of what you spent it on.

Answer 15

It would be a police state -- communism at its finest.

Cash allows trusted transaction to occur in the economy without third party interference.

Those who sell their futures for small comforts do not deserve freedom.