The war on cash is a battle being engaged by both the public and private sector. From the central banks to the large corporations, there is a concerted effort to abolish cash, or to at least limit its prevalence in the economy. Considering the myriad digital payment options at consumers’ disposal, and the business interests influencing public policy to rein in physical money, the transition to a cashless society is nigh.
Amazon is the latest soldier to join the front against tangible money. The internet retail juggernaut launched an online payment processing service in 2007 called Amazon Pay, which has yet to experience greater market share, unlike some other leading brands. But the company has decided to rejuvenate its efforts to become a power player in this niche, attempting to rival Google Wallet and Apple Pay.
It aims to achieve this by expanding the service beyond online payments, reports The Wall Street Journal. Citing people close to the situation, the website is making a push to partner with restaurants, gasoline stations, and local merchants that are not competing directly with Amazon. The main method would be customers scanning a code on their phones, but the retailer may also integrate Alexa into in-store payments.
Vendors have some consternation about the proposal because they might feel under threat by the e-commerce behemoth. Amazon has a different idea: It can become an integral part of consumers’ everyday lives. The media is looking at this development from the point of view asking “Will Amazon rule the world?” But the real question behind this report is: How long until we become a cashless planet?
Cashless Societies
Sweden is the model society for globalists and statists who want greater control over the people. In the land of Ingmar Bergman and meatballs, cash is on the cusp of extinction. Today, bills and coins account for only 1% of the national economy. Public transit, diners, restrooms, and parking lots all depend on digital payment platforms to process transactions. Retailers forecast that they will stop accepting krona banknotes within the next seven years. The central bank of Sweden – Sveriges Riksbank – is beginning to experiment with a digital currency called e-krona.
With the older demographics fading away, Stockholm will experience less resistance to the ultimate endgame: no more cash. This means the number of Swedes who are installing microchips in their hands could inevitably grow from the present level of 4,000 in the coming years.
The rest of the world is beginning to mirror the Swedish model – voluntarily and otherwise. Chinese consumers are paying for more of their transactions with their smartphones. Europeans are carrying less cash, relying on pieces of plastic to pay for goods and services. Younger North American consumers are walking down the same path.
But more concerning than a hipster paying for his “tall, half-caff, soy Latte at 120°F” with a tap, insert, or swipe, is the government imposing this totalitarian vision.
War on Cash
Legendary billionaire investor Jim Rogers had it right when he told a podcast in February 2017 that governments “love” the war on cash because it means, sooner or later, the politicians and bureaucrats “can control you.” No matter what the elite tell you about money laundering schemes, terrorism funding, and an assortment of illicit activities, they only care about placing the population under their boots.
By banning cash, taxing currency, and utilizing digital tools, the state can monitor and track your every move – from the carton of milk to the copy of Murray Rothbard’s What Has Government Done to Our Money? – the government will know all about you.
When peer-to-peer decentralized cryptocurrency Bitcoin entered the mainstream, dozens of central banks worldwide issued statements warning about the dangers of virtual currency. However, after examining how digital currencies could be used to trace your every step, they became more open to the innovation, launching commissions to study the effects of installing state-led e-currencies.
And that is how a 21st century serfdom is born.
But do you think surveillance is the only thing that will come out of a cashless society? The inevitable public-private partnership (P3) between governments and powerful corporations will mandate political correctness. In other words, this dangerous alliance will force you to hold certain opinions. Do you oppose mass migration, dislike the Democrats, and believe there are only two genders? Well, get ready to have your digital payment account temporarily suspended until you issue an apology and forfeit independent thought to the hive.
If you think that it’s out of the realm of possibility, then you just need to look at recent examples of this. PayPal ended its relationship with Alex Jones and Infowars. U.S. financial institutions erected a blockade to prevent Wikileaks from receiving donations. Payment processing firm Stripe suspended Gab from its service. Silicon Valley continues to suppress voices that violate leftist groupthink.
Commercial banks adore this system, too, because it forces new customers to enter the system. Just imagine when these entities partner with government. Until you concede your personal sovereignty, you’ll be unable to pay the rent, take a bus, or purchase a meal. And that is how a 21st century serfdom is born.
Cash is King
Paper money is no longer appealing to consumers. They like the speed, convenience, and benefits of scanning their smartphones or tapping their 3x2 inch plastic cards to acquire overpriced coffee or ripped apparel. How boring is it to hand over a $10 note to the cashier when you can collect points in exchange for marketing information? Unfortunately, shoppers have not considered the consequences.
It is apparent that the typical consumer is indifferent to having every movement collected, monitored, and stored. Why else would millions of people voluntarily spend money on devices that spy on them? The state will tell you that abolishing cash is for your own good. Tech goliaths will send notifications that you can get 10% off your next purchase if you swipe with an app. The anointed will argue that enslavement really is freedom. If you’re wary of any of these things, then know that the only certainty in life, beyond death and taxes, is that cash is king.
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