ULTIMATEDEADAug 15, 2023

I'm worried that in the future we will be forced to use smartphones just like in China

https://lemmy.ml/post/3367414

I'm worried that in the future we will be forced to use smartphones just like in China - Lemmy

In China, you can’t exist without a smartphone, because for all existential things you have to do (paying bills, buying tickets etc.) , you are forced to use the almighty wechat app. Smartphones are a tool to manipulate and to spy on the population. It is a tool utilized by the ruling class, to control the masses. I hate the future and I hate “progress”.

Show threadhoodatninjaAug 15, 2023
The thing that is bothering me right now is seeing “cashless” establishments. Frankly, it’s kind of discriminatory, and I do not know how you can justify denying people goods and services if they are carrying the currency of the country they live in. That does not sit right with me.
Show thread😈MedicPig🐷BabySaver😈Aug 15, 2023
If it’s a private business then that’s their choice. It’s your choice to not give them your $. I don’t see how that’s discrimination? If they have something that you really want, then you’ll choose a cashless option.
Show threadhoodatninjaAug 15, 2023

There are two problems with this logic. 1: it is actually debatable if it is their right. I can’t take you to civil court if I’m claiming you won't pay for something as you stand there waving the money in front of my face.

2: at no point was I talking about legal rights. I am saying what does not sit right with me.

There’s always this particular tone when people come in rushing to the defense of corporations with “it’s a private business they can do what they want.“ But I often find the same people get angry when corporations run certain kinds of marketing campaigns or are outspoken on a social or political issue. Suddenly they want the government to step in/corporations need to adhere to “the rule of law” or whatever.

Either way, if you don’t see how it could be discriminatory, then I advise you to talk to low income earners and ask how many of them have credit cards they can actually use.

How many homeless people do you think have a line of credit? Are they simply not allowed to buy a bottle of water anymore?

This isn’t about the rights of a business. This is about prioritizing their preference - not a need - over the needs of actual human beings in a very flagrant way. That really does not make sense. USD actually has this printed right on it (for debts public and private or whatever the exact wording is). To not accept cash is incredibly questionable to me, both legally and ethically.

Edit: as of 2 months ago, 23% of americans don't even have a card. Should nearly 1/4th of the US population be barred from being able to pay for things?

Credit Card Ownership And Usage Statistics | Bankrate

Access to credit can differ from person to person. Find out how age, income level, gender and race tend to influence the number of credit cards one holds.

Bankrate
Show threadphillaholicAug 15, 2023
How many have debit cards though?
Show threadhoodatninja

Initial googling shows roughly 4.5% of the population has no bank at all.

Regardless, cashless has too many issues and - whether or not it's intentional - often ends up being discriminatory. The legality of it is very questionable.

Aug 15, 2023 at 5:45pmWeb
Show threadlukzakAug 16, 2023

Wow, that’s pretty crazy to think that so many people can’t/won’t get a bank account. Are these people undocumented immigrants with no identification? Is this the same part of the population that is targeted by the ID laws for voting?

How are those people getting money? Is it really possible in the USA to just be paid with an envelope of cash? Or is it under the table work? Or if they are poor, is there any kind of benefit/welfare from the government? Don’t they need a bank account to receive those funds?

I’m just asking because in my country, I was able to open a bank account for free. I’ve had it for a year and I’ve never even deposited any money into it. But I have a debit card for that account. It seems impossible to me to have no access to a bank account.

Show threadhoodatninjaAug 16, 2023
Banks in the US are tricky business sometimes. They often want a lot of info (understandably) but someone does not have a home may not be able to provide some of it. They may not have a phone number, they may not have an address, they may not have either. Could also be undocumented individuals are part of it, I'm sure they factor in. Maybe someone decided to go "off grid" and stop using anything connected to the government they can and is now a mattress stuffer lol. Point is cash should always be acceptable outside of edge cases IMO.