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RAHN: Why do we still use paper money?
Washington Times ^ | 04/08/2014 | By Richard Rahn

Posted on 04/08/2014 6:52:04 AM PDT by SeekAndFind

Paper currency is dirty and is a major transmitter of disease as it goes from unwashed hand to unwashed hand. It is easily lost and stolen, and can be easily destroyed by getting wet or burned.

It physically wears out in a short time and is costly and troublesome to replace. So why do we still use the filthy stuff in the electronic age?

When given a choice, people find credit cards, debit cards and bank account electronic payments more convenient than cash. In many parts of the world, payments can be made from cellphone to cellphone, with the phone companies serving many of the functions of traditional banks. Money can be stored and transmitted from and to almost any form of computer.

Also various forms of electronic money can be made more secure than paper currency. Electronic monies and payment systems do not spread disease.

Governments like electronic money payment systems that they can monitor, such as credit cards, but they don’t like nongovernment created electronic monies and payment systems that they find difficult to monitor like bitcoin. So, predictably, last week the IRS ruled that bitcoin is not money, thus the users must report the capital gain and loss against the U.S. dollar for each transaction made with bitcoins. Even with advanced software, an individual who might use bitcoins for the purchase of many goods and services will find trying to comply with the IRS an accounting nightmare.

Some 15 years ago, I wrote a book forecasting the demise of paper currency. I expected paper currency to gradually disappear like paper checks have. However, I was wrong. Rather than disappearing, the demand for paper currency is rising faster than inflation or population,

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: currency; money; papermoney
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To: Halgr
Who would ever have thought that our own government and media would be conduits of evil???

The framers of our Constitution, and they were right.

21 posted on 04/08/2014 7:02:39 AM PDT by precisionshootist
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To: Halgr
Who would ever have thought that our own government and media would be conduits of evil???

Not-so-obviously sarcasm... :)

22 posted on 04/08/2014 7:05:51 AM PDT by MrB (The difference between a Humanist and a Satanist - the latter admits whom he's working for)
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To: SeekAndFind
It is easily lost and stolen, and can be easily destroyed by getting wet or burned.

........Or taxed or inflated to worthlessness..............

23 posted on 04/08/2014 7:06:47 AM PDT by Red Badger (LIberal is an oxymoron......................)
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To: rightwingintelligentsia

I agree with your Bingo! Hide your assets any way you can the tax collector is coming to town.


24 posted on 04/08/2014 7:06:57 AM PDT by Foundahardheadedwoman (God don't have a statute of limitations)
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To: skeeter
...unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name.

Notice that it does not say HIS name. Hillary, are you listening?

25 posted on 04/08/2014 7:07:18 AM PDT by JimRed (Excise the cancer before it kills us; feed & water the Tree of Liberty! TERM LIMITS NOW & FOREVER!)
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To: precisionshootist

The framers had the RIGHT view of the nature of man, and that’s why they set up the Constitution the way they did - to limit fallen man from oppressing his neighbors.

But, the left has the opposite and WRONG view of mankind - that he is basically good and just needs the proper environment, and of course, the “elite” would NEVER NEVER abuse their power over others, because they’re “basically good” and have benevolent intentions and would use their power to enable others to be good too.


26 posted on 04/08/2014 7:07:59 AM PDT by MrB (The difference between a Humanist and a Satanist - the latter admits whom he's working for)
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To: FatherofFive
Rather than disappearing, the demand for paper currency is rising faster than inflation or population . . .

Create a socialist economy where the government has to steal a little bit of every transaction and the underground economy grows and thrives. It ain't rocket science.

27 posted on 04/08/2014 7:08:03 AM PDT by Vigilanteman (Obama: Fake black man. Fake Messiah. Fake American. How many fakes can you fit in one Zer0?)
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To: SeekAndFind
My wife has often said one day the gubmint will just send you a tax receipt because they already know what you bought at WalMart, and how much your paycheck was, and all your gas purchases, ect so, if it adds up, you had x dollars removed from your account. If it looks like you spent more than you made an audit would ensue. Every database would connect to Utah and track even your burgers and fries.

Look at the bright side, Apr. 15 would be just another day as long as your vacation was in line with what they thought you should spend. Watch out how much beef you buy though because you have heart trouble and they will cut off your health care if you don't watch it. I guess they could just not accept payment at the checkout if you throw a sack of M & M's up there. Just think, all your decisions belong to us.

28 posted on 04/08/2014 7:08:11 AM PDT by chuckles
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To: bolobaby

Where there’s a will there’s a way..................


29 posted on 04/08/2014 7:08:33 AM PDT by Red Badger (LIberal is an oxymoron......................)
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To: JimRed

“Man of Lawlessness”...

Fits a certain president to a “t”.
He’s just waiting to be “indwelt”.


30 posted on 04/08/2014 7:08:48 AM PDT by MrB (The difference between a Humanist and a Satanist - the latter admits whom he's working for)
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To: SeekAndFind

Because it is usually anonymous? /s


31 posted on 04/08/2014 7:08:59 AM PDT by Let's Roll (Save the world's best healthcare - REPEAL, DEFUND Obamacare!)
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To: rightwingintelligentsia

You bet. Ask any free born man/woman of the mountains what they think of that and all revenuers, be they local, county, state,or federal in any form with their little digital (as in “the finger Romanum”) on the free expression of commerce.

There will always be “currency” of things needed and the paper that represents the “note” backed by the “things”.

Completely unbacked currency (which the US Dream of the creatures from Jekyll Island now our slavers). No matter what their background— if one can control the “money” (electronic or otherwise) one can control a nation, regardless of who tries to make laws. BTW the Federal Reserve’s empowering legislation of 1913 was renewed in Dec. 2013 by our pliant Congress. Sic Semper Tyrannis. Deo Vindice.


32 posted on 04/08/2014 7:09:52 AM PDT by John S Mosby (Sic Semper Tyrannis)
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To: SeekAndFind

Pretty much the only cash I ever see is when I get paied for music gigs.


33 posted on 04/08/2014 7:10:55 AM PDT by cuban leaf
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To: SeekAndFind

*********************WARNIN*************************

Governments like electronic money payment.


34 posted on 04/08/2014 7:12:06 AM PDT by Vaduz
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To: SeekAndFind
In 2012, I worked in Australia (surely, a modern civilised country) for a few months. It seemed to me that Aussies really did not like to use electronic payment ... cash was king and ATMs were everywhere.
35 posted on 04/08/2014 7:12:20 AM PDT by NorthMountain
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To: Vaquero

Around here there is no surcharge for using credit. I use my Costco Amex to buy all my gas and get about $450 back at the end of the year. I have a 125 mile round trip commute...


36 posted on 04/08/2014 7:12:32 AM PDT by cuban leaf
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To: SeekAndFind

Not half as much disease as is transmitted by the neo-world order electro world govt. currency criminals. Make it paper or even better something of base value held in physical location, which was why currency came along, from the moneychangers (of all religiosity, lest anyone think this is a screed against one).

What a disgusting lickspittle of an article written by a tool of those who would enslave us to their vig (rather, they have enslaved us to the chinese vig already).


37 posted on 04/08/2014 7:13:45 AM PDT by John S Mosby (Sic Semper Tyrannis)
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To: lacrew

I can’t believe Bitcoin is still allowed. The only answer I have is they already have Bitcoin defeated and are watching your transactions. They won’t tip their hand until they can’t control it. I had heard a report that the courts decided that it could be taxed as an investment. That tells me they can track it.


38 posted on 04/08/2014 7:14:52 AM PDT by chuckles
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To: peyton randolph

Well, the gold’s likely mostly gone from Ft. Knox or replaced with gold plated tungsten for the showtime.


39 posted on 04/08/2014 7:15:33 AM PDT by John S Mosby (Sic Semper Tyrannis)
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To: cuban leaf

Costco is always the cheapest gas around here. Unfortunately it’s located a bit to far away to be my usual stop. But when I’m over there I always fill up.


40 posted on 04/08/2014 7:15:54 AM PDT by nascarnation (Toxic Baraq Syndrome: hopefully infecting a Dem candidate near you)
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