Is a 'No Cash' society a threat?

James_Green_1982

The move away from cash towards digital only trundles on.
Interestingly (and perhaps alarmingly) this move appears to be encouraged by many members of the public.

Is it a ''good idea'' to abandon cash for the sake of convenience and to tackle crime and tax evasion?

Or does a digital only system hand too much power and control to the establishment and politicians etc?

jonnygee2

I'm not convinced society will ever become fully cashless.

I think use of cash may fall to a minimum level, maybe 10 - 15% of transactions, then stick there.

So much of life is moving online though, I think whatever happens with cash, we are already at a position where if our governments were to become police states they could have all the information they needed for near complete control. It's really too late to worry about / prevent this imo, it's better just to make sure that we aren't electing the kind of people who would turn our countries into police states.

elsien

Don't know about a threat but it'd be a pain in the !!!!. I still use a fair amount of cash. Digital isn't like spending real money, so far easier to overspend.

societys_child

it's better just to make sure that we aren't electing the kind of people who would turn our countries into police states.

You mean the types that don't like freedom and democracy? I fear it's too late . .

phillw

societys_child wrote: »

You mean the types that don't like freedom and democracy? I fear it's too late . .

Yeah, freedom of movement is going. It's all what rich elite want now.

Planet_Switzerland

"Card Only" is one way to guarantee I won't be making a purchase. A positive from that is that I won't be buying a nasty overpriced pint of beer from The O2 ever again.

worried_jim

I often go payday to payday without using cash. Got apple wallet on my phone so often go out without a physical wallet too.

phillw

worried_jim wrote: »

I often go payday to payday without using cash. Got apple wallet on my phone so often go out without a physical wallet too.

I use cash to operate trolleys at aldi, which I would like a better solution for anyway.

But there is an activity where cash is the only option for me, so while I can see there being a reduction in cash use then I would prefer it doesn't disappear altogether. I suspect we'll see the smaller denominations disappear first.

photome

I can see us being cashless within 15 years

phillw

photome wrote: »

I can see us being cashless within 15 years

We'll certainly be pennyless.

kabayiri

It's getting harder to use cash in parts of China. That WeChat thing seemed to be everywhere.

I'm sure credit card usage was restricted to only a few countries at first, but these things tend to spread.