Posted on 10/20/2011 2:52:25 AM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
Cold hard cash. It's good everywhere you go, right? You can use it to pay for anything.
But that's not the case here in Louisiana now. It's a law that was passed during this year's busy legislative session.
House bill 195 basically says those who buy and sell second hand goods cannot use cash to make those transactions, and it flew so far under the radar most businesses don't even know about it.
"We're gonna lose a lot of business," says Danny Guidry, who owns the Pioneer Trading Post in Lafayette. He deals in buying and selling unique second hand items.
"We don't want this cash transaction to be taken away from us. It's an everyday transaction," Guidry explains.
Guidry says, "I think everyone in this business once they find out about it. They're will definitely be a lot of uproar."
The law states those who buy or sell second hand goods are prohibited from using cash. State representative Rickey Hardy co-authored the bill.
Hardy says, "they give a check or a cashiers money order, or electronic one of those three mechanisms is used."
Hardy says the bill is targeted at criminals who steal anything from copper to televisions, and sell them for a quick buck. Having a paper trail will make it easier for law enforcement.
"It's a mechanism to be used so the police department has something to go on and have a lead," explains Hardy.
Guidry feels his store shouldn't have to change it's ways of doing business, because he may possibly buy or sell stolen goods. Something he says has happened once in his eight years.
"We are being targeted for something we shouldn't be."
Besides non-profit resellers like Goodwill, and garage sales, the language of the bill encompasses stores like the Pioneer Trading Post and flea markets.
Lawyer Thad Ackel Jr. feels the passage of this bill begins a slippery slope for economic freedom in the state.
"The government is placing a significant restriction on individuals transacting in their own private property," says Ackel.
Pawn shops have been forced to keep records of their clients for years. However under this bill they are still allowed to deal in cash.
This is the first step in tightening the tax noose around everyone’s necks.
A violation of Federal Currency Laws.
Let’s see them ENFORCE it.
Just checked a $5 and it says “this note is legal tender for all debts, public and private
“Let’s see them enforce it”.
They would have to arrest every person that has a yard sale, garage sale or estate sale. They would also have to eliminate Craigslist. I am sure they could “make an example” with a few individuals.. but how do you completely regulate/control something like this?!
Yepper. Paper trail. Which is odd because so many places are emphasizing ‘paperless’. Drives ya crazy.
That was my first thought too. Paper trails for tax purposes. Makes finding a barter currency much more attractive.
They thought gold confiscation wouldn’t be enforceable either...
I just don’t want them forcing everyone to use debit cards or charge cars where you have extra fees and or interest. I avoid those when possible.
How about we ban writers who can’t write?
What about the poor people who don’t have bank accounts and credit cards? Discrimination!
That is already in the works FRiend. There are things being floated now that are called ‘gold backed debit cards.’
We are truly living in a world we do not fully understand.
If they are getting a government “check” it is direct deposited into an account or like the eBt cards magically refilled overnight. The poor have cards.
Anything to keep making us pay more and more, then wonder why people go bankrupt.
They just mentioned on FOX that two senators, they didn’t say who, have a plan to get us out of the real estate problem. They suggest that foreigners buy homes here in return for visas.
“This note is legal tender for all debts, public or private”
All they have to do it watch the cash register at a thrift store or consignment shop and close the place down the first time the cashier accepts a cash payment. BTW, I’ll betchca half the people working at consignment shops are housewives working off the books part time for at or below minimum wage.
If my wife works on the books our incremental tax liability, State, Federal, SS and Mediscare is close to 50%. She’d have to make $16/HR to take home $8.
Therein lies the reason. It is another political payoff combined with a way for the state to get into your pocket as well. So where are the OWS protestors on this one?
Remember the days when everyone was falling all over themselves to put Jindal in the White House? Better yet, why all the glle about all the party switchers?
Time for the Tea Party to go on a rampage in Louisiana and start voting in some real conservatives.
WHOA.
I read an article defending this law. The lawmaker said, “well people can just get money orders to shop at a Flea Market.”
Obviously this person has never been to a flea market. There are individual vendors there - you would have to have a money order for each one - and you would have to know the amount BEFORE you go to be able to get a money order.
What dopes.
They say it is to protect the public against people who vandalize homes and sell the copper etc. But they made the law so encompassing to restrict us all.
I do 90% of my purchasing at flea markets and yard sales.
They are making it harder and harder on the poor.
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