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Absolutely. Other comments here already discuss that. But I think there is discussion to be had about how cash enables certain crimes and what impact that has o

Absolutely. Other comments here already discuss that. But I think there is discussion to be had about how cash enables certain crimes and what impact that has on us, how cashless can change this and on the other hand how handing full control over our ability to spend money is handed over to the government and what risks are associated with that and what mitigations are possible. Also the state already has many, many ways to make your life hell. How big the impact of this additional way is, also needs to be discussed. I'm pretty sure most people don't store their life savings in cash at home and freezing your bank account has a similar impact now even though cash is still available.

esperent 4y ago
> cash enables certain crimes Vs > handing full control over our ability to spend money is handed over to the government Seems like the second one enables the crime of disenfranchisement, except that no one will be able to label it a crime and no one will ever be punished because it's the government doing it. See the recent example of the Canadian government cutting off protesters bank access without trial. Whatever you think of the protests, that's a terrible thing for a government to be able to do. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/22/world/americas/canada-protest-finances.html https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/22/world/americas/canada-pro...
irthomasthomas 4y ago
People will just barter if they want the drugs bad enough. This only adds one step to the purchase.
throwaway4aday 4y ago
Black markets are notorious for dealing in foreign currencies or exchanging goods or other convertible assets. Removing cash from the equation has never stopped criminals from operating, see prisons, hyperinflation, wartime, etc. People just invent or adopt a new currency if you take away the current one.
- traspler 4y ago
  There should be data about that from Sweden, no? I don't know what the situation there is regarding that but would like to know.

esperent 4y ago

> cash enables certain crimes Vs > handing full control over our ability to spend money is handed over to the government Seems like the second one enables the crime of disenfranchisement, except that no one will be able to label it a crime and no one will ever be punished because it's the government doing it. See the recent example of the Canadian government cutting off protesters bank access without trial. Whatever you think of the protests, that's a terrible thing for a government to be able to do. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/22/world/americas/canada-protest-finances.html https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/22/world/americas/canada-pro...

irthomasthomas 4y ago

People will just barter if they want the drugs bad enough. This only adds one step to the purchase.

throwaway4aday 4y ago

Black markets are notorious for dealing in foreign currencies or exchanging goods or other convertible assets. Removing cash from the equation has never stopped criminals from operating, see prisons, hyperinflation, wartime, etc. People just invent or adopt a new currency if you take away the current one.

traspler 4y ago
There should be data about that from Sweden, no? I don't know what the situation there is regarding that but would like to know.