You cannot force people who aren't part of private financial institutions in the first place to do squat. Those who don't have bank or checking accounts, if they find themselves cut off from “shopping”, will resort to yet more stealing and rioting and so on. That won't get the dems many friends, and they'll likely back down rather quickly. This is why I can't wait to see them try.
Don't get me wrong. I comprehend what you're saying. My point is you're preaching from a different locale than those I'm referring to.
“We always have a choice, and the only impediment is our own lack of courage.”
I would say laziness is the true factor. It takes a “lot of work” to stand on principle and use only cash. Most are too lazy to even use their brain to count it.
We live in a world where two clicks of a mouse is a huge labor and one click too many.