Thursday, October 28, 2004

debit cards


     I am concerned with the growing popularity of debit cards.  The reason I use them is partly because of the advertised convenience.  It is so easy to spend my money when I need it, even if I forgot to hit the ATM... and partly because I know that the money in my pocket is the same as the money in my bank account.  So if I keep the money in the bank, it doesn't get lost as easily. 
     This is where the problem comes in.  As you may or may not know, I'm a licensed electrician, doing business for myself.  I usually get paid cash, and when I get paid by check I usually go to the bank the check was drawn on to get my cash.  Many people like me, want to keep control of their own money, either for tax purposes, or, or...ok I guess it's just tax purposes.  Not me, of course...but let's just say that they convince us to use debit cards and checks and do away with paper money. 
     In that event, all of my money would have to be in a bank account in order to spend it.  Which means 1.  There is a computer record of all money that I have.  2.  All peoples giving me money would have access to deposit the money in my account.  3.  The banks would have control of the money.
     The problem is, some of us have debts to banks that don't allow us to have a checking account and some of us have even exploited a checking account to spend money we don't have.  If we are required to let the banks control our money, we would lose a way to help tear down the system that enslaves us and robs us of our labor.  That would help the government eliminate those guys that always keep all of their money in cash, and skirt their taxes.  Good for the government, bad for us.  Also, once we put our money in total control of the system, we could be robbed for more money.  How?
     When you get a ticket, you may be in a situation where you barely have enough to eat, let alone pay that ticket.  But with your money in control of the bank, the government can force you to pay that ticket.  An indirect result is that you will be forced to follow their rules, because if they find you guilty you could be seriously fucked.  Once that happens, they can pass any crazy law they want, and you will have no recourse...except of course to steal everything you need to survive.  As the thefts increase, the iron fist of government will impose even more laws, furthering the difficulty in your life.
     I would prefer to live in a world with no money, but that is another story.  As long as we slowly give up control of the tokens we gained by slaving over a job, we are actually helping them enslave us even more.
     No matter what, we cannot allow the government to do away with paper money.  As soon as they do, we are giving them permission to fuck us even harder.  In a hotel room in Las Vegas, that's not such a bad thing...but in day to day life?  You decide.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Unlike credit cards, where you are only responsible for the first $50, someone can wipe out your entire savings account and you are screwed.

A utility company here wanted to start using 'electronic checks'. You write them a check, they destroy it and use the information as a back door into your account. There was so much protest, they relented.

I can't see how anyone would want to do electronic banking. I wouldn't give a stranger the key to my house, so why would I gave a key to my bank account to a utility company?

Use cash. Its quicker and they can't market you to death.