Preparedness for when

COOLTRIKERCHICK

Think they have set the ball rolling already, even unknowingly. With the phasing out of cheque books, and with cheques not guaranteed with a bank card anymore.

I should imagine there is a way around it, re- not having a bank account, but in this day and age where wages are paid into the banks, loans/ mortgages etc being by direct debit etc. And the days of the old payment books for things on the verge of being extinct.. It would be hard not to live without a bank account. Especially for a certain generation onwards, that use their bank cards to even pay for a pint of milk lol

Internet shopping etc will be out the window, and only local-ish cash sales will be done, which actually would potentially benefit local independent traders, communities as cash/ money will be kept local..this could possibly lead to some sort of local bartering system between friends/ communities ???

' I will swop you a leg of pork for a box full of veg etc I would be up for that lol

nuatha

The banks have already being moving towards this. So far they've avoided negative interest but the number of accounts that require a minimum monthly deposit, and a fee has been steadily increasing. So far these accounts have other perks, (and some other ties, like Santander's minimum number of direct debits) but fees to maintain a bank account are becoming the norm.
And we regularly get newspaper reports that herald the end of free banking - ideas are often floated to gauge public reaction or to accustom the public to an idea, so that when its implemented, there is little opposition or even resigned acceptance.

Hopefully, this isn't one of those: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9630862/Elderly-should-do-community-work-or-lose-pension-peer-says.html

moneyistooshorttomention

My first reaction was "Good God!!!" - but I see the date on that article was October 2012 - so that particular piece of lunacy seems to have sunk without trace.

I guess it got "divebombed in the water" the second someone with a bit more sense thought "Hang on a minute - where is all the free childcare from the Gran/Grandad generation going to come from if we take their retirement time off them?"

nuatha

COOLTRIKERCHICK wrote: »

Think they have set the ball rolling already, even unknowingly. With the phasing out of cheque books, and with cheques not guaranteed with a bank card anymore.

Even earlier than that. The 1986 Wages Act repealed the various Truck Acts, removing the right to be paid in "Coin of the Realm."
At the time it was announced that this would help pave the way to a modern cashless society.

nuatha

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

My first reaction was "Good God!!!" - but I see the date on that article was October 2012 - so that particular piece of lunacy seems to have sunk without trace.

I guess it got "divebombed in the water" the second someone with a bit more sense thought "Hang on a minute - where is all the free childcare from the Gran/Grandad generation going to come from if we take their retirement time off them?"

My point being that these ideas are floated, then floated again, then referred to as if they are common knowledge or somehow inevitable.

Politicians have a long history of trialling ideas and variations on an idea until they can get one through without too much opposition or until it seems that there is no alternative to that idea (which was originally seen as horrendous) which is in anyway acceptable - ie we accept the least bad option.

A different example of the Chinese Water Torture approach to public opinion. Teaching was once a well respected profession, now its full of lazy people who can't do - so they teach, who can't cope with a 9-5 - so they work 9-3:30, who are so lazy they only bother turning into to work 40 weeks a year. The only part of that that is true is that teaching was once a respected profession, but decades of politicians comments (and under resourcing) alongside media campaigns has resulted in a public perception that teachers are ineffectual, overpaid and under-employed. The same tactics are being used on the NHS at the moment.

[Deleted User]

I wonder if we the public could change perception over Politicians??? The 'description' of lazy people who can't do, can't cope, are ineffectual, overpaid and under-employed might just apply there too mightn't it? add to that boorish, arrogant, childish in behaviour to each other and totally out of touch with 'ordinary life' reality and I wonder that they are held as high in the public esteem as they are!!!

greenbee

I don't think many people have many illusions about politicians. But the system we have doesn't really allow us to do much about it... and the only people who can change the system appear to be the politicians.

nuatha

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

I wonder if we the public could change perception over Politicians??? The 'description' of lazy people who can't do, can't cope, are ineffectual, overpaid and under-employed might just apply there too mightn't it? add to that boorish, arrogant, childish in behaviour to each other and totally out of touch with 'ordinary life' reality and I wonder that they are held as high in the public esteem as they are!!!

greenbee wrote: »

I don't think many people have many illusions about politicians. But the system we have doesn't really allow us to do much about it... and the only people who can change the system appear to be the politicians.

While I agree that many people will express a negative opinion about politicians, it does seem that the same people will trust politicians to tell the truth and put the country's best interests first despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

Having a system that prevents the voters from recalling or suspending those voted for seems incongruous. Having a system that prevents the majority opinion from being heard is just about ridiculous, but its the system we have. Expecting politicians to vote for and implement radical reforms that would require them to change their ways would be like expecting turkeys to vote for two Christmases per year.

[Deleted User]

Shame, I LIKE Christmas!!!

thriftwizard

What about those who are not "eligible" for bank accounts? I've seen people I know, who do have regular wages coming in, being turned down because of long-ago errors or wayward ex-es causing CCJs. Even people whose address doesn't yet appear on computers, because of having been built within the last year. How are people in that position to survive without some kind of cash?

Not to mention that I & others like me would be out of business; in many of the places I trade, there is no mobile signal. I know there are ways & means, but they all cost a lot more than keeping a cash float, and generally mean my customers must also be signed up to whatever service I opt for. Which many of them would be very wary of... a lot of people my own age won't "do" internet banking, OH amongst them. Which is because he knows exactly what, and how many things, can & do go wrong; that's what he does for a living. Not out of ignorance, as some assume, but because he's only too aware of just how devious the ungodly can be!