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If the US government actually wanted to (mostly) eliminate cash, they could just stop printing currency, and wait for what's in circulation to wear out. That w

If the US government actually wanted to (mostly) eliminate cash, they could just stop printing currency, and wait for what's in circulation to wear out. That would take about 23 years [0]. As it is, though, only about 8% of all USD exists in physical form [1], anyway, making the USD largely a digital currency already. --- [0]: https://www.federalreserve.gov/faqs/how-long-is-the-life-span-of-us-paper-money.htm https://www.federalreserve.gov/faqs/how-long-is-the-life-spa... [1]: https://money.howstuffworks.com/currency.htm https://money.howstuffworks.com/currency.htm

dmitrygr 5y ago
That would be reported by the news and people would care. Whereas here we get this reaction: "they seized his money and say he is suspected of being a drug dealer, well then i have nothing to worry about - i am not a drug dealer."
- bserge 5y ago
  Works even better in the EU. 20K in cash on an economy flight? Criminal! No other way. No way you saved up all of that, you poor pos!
  - ClumsyPilot 5y ago
    It's better to have a clear law, even if it's wrong, so you can carry 19K in peace, then be randomly and unpredictably harrassed by authorities.
- actually_a_dog 5y ago
  Eh, people would care for about 5 minutes, just like everything else. Remember when basically every American adult with a credit history had their entire credit files stolen? How many people do you hear talking about that now?
  - lotsofpulp 5y ago
    That is materially different than having your cash stolen from you by a seemingly random person at the airport. One results in a very small probability of it affecting you in any way, the other is someone stealing from you.
    - zamadatix 5y ago
      I think they are replying to the currency printing hypothetical not the 125,000-dollars-stolen-from-me hypothetical.
      - lotsofpulp 5y ago
        I thought they were comparing people’s reactions to news about equifax’s data breach exposing people’s social and other identifying info to news about the government stealing from people via civil asset forfeiture.
        actually_a_dog 5y ago
        @zamadatix is correct.
    - deleted 5y ago
      [deleted]
- zamadatix 5y ago
  I think the most common reaction is going to be "this guy carried my mortgage worth in cash on his person to the airport, I don't think I'm going to have that problem".
  - mywittyname 5y ago
    Until the time they go buy a $5000 used car. Also, it's not just cash they go after. There are plenty of "State v. Diamond Necklace" or "State v. Various Electronics Valued at Approx. $1000" cases out there.
    - shartacct 5y ago
      > Until the time they go buy a $5000 used car. Who buys a car with cash, except for trashy/unscrupulous people? In my adult life I've never bought a used car with cash, usually it's cashiers check or wire transfer or more recently ACH after funds in my account were verified. While it's undoubtedly an overreach to just seize all large sums of money that pass through an airport, there's zero doubt in my mind that anyone doing it is doing so for good reason. The 'victim' in this case is almost certainly involved in drug or human trafficking.
      - dmitrygr 5y ago
        > Who buys a car with cash? I did once. Why? Because I damn well wanted to, that's why! I am allegedly a free man living in the "free-est country on earth" so I gave my bank the required one week notice, came in with a bag, and walked out with the amount of cash necessary to buy my shiny new corvette. I then peacefully made my way to the dealership, where I signed the papers and handed them the money. No eyelashes were batted. > there's zero doubt in my mind that anyone doing it is doing so for good reason > in this case is almost certainly involved in drug or human trafficking. Plot twist: i've never been involved in any drug/human trade, and made the money legally... I gave you my "good reason". Feel free to call the DA in my area and tell them what to charge me with... > In my [...] life There's your issue. Not everyone is you. People have different situations and measuring them all against yourself is ... well ... wrong? Eg: Have you "in your life" ever lived in a country where multiple bank runs happened during "your life", the banks ran out of money, and the government did nothing to make citizens whole? No? Cause that is one reason people would avoid banks - being bankrupted by such an event leaves a mark on you. Probably enough of a mark to keep you from banks forever, even if you move to USA...

dmitrygr 5y ago

That would be reported by the news and people would care. Whereas here we get this reaction: "they seized his money and say he is suspected of being a drug dealer, well then i have nothing to worry about - i am not a drug dealer."

bserge 5y ago
Works even better in the EU. 20K in cash on an economy flight? Criminal! No other way. No way you saved up all of that, you poor pos!
- ClumsyPilot 5y ago
  It's better to have a clear law, even if it's wrong, so you can carry 19K in peace, then be randomly and unpredictably harrassed by authorities.
actually_a_dog 5y ago
Eh, people would care for about 5 minutes, just like everything else. Remember when basically every American adult with a credit history had their entire credit files stolen? How many people do you hear talking about that now?
- lotsofpulp 5y ago
  That is materially different than having your cash stolen from you by a seemingly random person at the airport. One results in a very small probability of it affecting you in any way, the other is someone stealing from you.
  - zamadatix 5y ago
    I think they are replying to the currency printing hypothetical not the 125,000-dollars-stolen-from-me hypothetical.
    - lotsofpulp 5y ago
      I thought they were comparing people’s reactions to news about equifax’s data breach exposing people’s social and other identifying info to news about the government stealing from people via civil asset forfeiture.
      - actually_a_dog 5y ago
        @zamadatix is correct.
  - deleted 5y ago
    [deleted]
zamadatix 5y ago
I think the most common reaction is going to be "this guy carried my mortgage worth in cash on his person to the airport, I don't think I'm going to have that problem".
- mywittyname 5y ago
  Until the time they go buy a $5000 used car. Also, it's not just cash they go after. There are plenty of "State v. Diamond Necklace" or "State v. Various Electronics Valued at Approx. $1000" cases out there.
  - shartacct 5y ago
    > Until the time they go buy a $5000 used car. Who buys a car with cash, except for trashy/unscrupulous people? In my adult life I've never bought a used car with cash, usually it's cashiers check or wire transfer or more recently ACH after funds in my account were verified. While it's undoubtedly an overreach to just seize all large sums of money that pass through an airport, there's zero doubt in my mind that anyone doing it is doing so for good reason. The 'victim' in this case is almost certainly involved in drug or human trafficking.
    - dmitrygr 5y ago
      > Who buys a car with cash? I did once. Why? Because I damn well wanted to, that's why! I am allegedly a free man living in the "free-est country on earth" so I gave my bank the required one week notice, came in with a bag, and walked out with the amount of cash necessary to buy my shiny new corvette. I then peacefully made my way to the dealership, where I signed the papers and handed them the money. No eyelashes were batted. > there's zero doubt in my mind that anyone doing it is doing so for good reason > in this case is almost certainly involved in drug or human trafficking. Plot twist: i've never been involved in any drug/human trade, and made the money legally... I gave you my "good reason". Feel free to call the DA in my area and tell them what to charge me with... > In my [...] life There's your issue. Not everyone is you. People have different situations and measuring them all against yourself is ... well ... wrong? Eg: Have you "in your life" ever lived in a country where multiple bank runs happened during "your life", the banks ran out of money, and the government did nothing to make citizens whole? No? Cause that is one reason people would avoid banks - being bankrupted by such an event leaves a mark on you. Probably enough of a mark to keep you from banks forever, even if you move to USA...