Cash transactions being outlawed/severely limited:

[dixiegrrrrl]

Gonzalo Lira mentioned this in the On The Edge show interview,
http://www.youtube dot com/watch?v=XWD-VSvvQrI
( I changed link so that video would not be embedded, but sure is worth the watch)

so I looked it up.
Here is what I found:

In Italy, within just a few short months, the government limited decreasing amounts of cash per transaction.
first to 5,000 Euros
then to 2,000 Euros
and now to 1,000 Euros.
http://articles.businessinsider.com/2011-12-04/markets/30473983_1_tax-evasion-austerity-measures-retirement-age
All cash transactions over 1000 euros will now be banned outright.
It is being reported as a "tax evasion preventive measure"
but it has other, more chilling effects.
The government initially wanted to set a 300-euro or 500-euro cash limit but decided against it.

Mexico:
a bill before the legislature would completely ban the purchase of real estate in cash. In addition, the new law would ban anyone from spending more than MXN 100,000 (about $7,700) in cash on vehicles, boats, airplanes and luxury goods.
http://edition.presstv.ir/detail/140267.html

They say THAT is because of money laundering.

Greece:
"From 1. Jan. 2011, every transaction above 1,500 euros between natural persons and businesses, or between businesses, will not be considered legal if it is done in cash. Transactions will have to be done through debit or credit cards"
http://www.reuters.com/article/2010/02/09/greece-finmin-highlights-idUSLDE61824V20100209

Belgium:
the legal limit for payments in cash is to be reduced from 15,000 to 5,000 Euro.
They say the new measures are intended to help in the battle against money laundering.
http://hashonomy.com/link/flandersnewsbe-cash-payments-over-5000-euro-to-be-banned-216950/
( I am trying to find additional sources for this)

France:
September 1, 2011:
anyone attempting to sell or purchase ferrous or non-ferrous metals, which includes gold and silver, will be required to pay for their purchase via a credit card or bank wire transfer if it exceeds 450€ (~ $600 USD)...
http://jessescrossroadscafe.blogspot.com/2011/10/restricting-gold-and-silver-cash-sales.html

Russia:
"The Russian Finance Ministry has decided that cash transactions should be limited: all salaries and large purchases should be cashless. That could decrease the expenses, make the money flow more transparently and enhance fiscal performance."
http://en.gazeta.ru/news/2012/01/19/a_3968597.shtml

Britain:
Scrap dealers cannot use cash.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/9036121/Curbs-on-scrap-metal-dealers-to-be-announced-to-stop-theft-epidemic.html

Louisiana:
those who buy and sell second hand goods cannot use cash to make those transactions.
( that means YOU cannot pay cash at Goodwill in La)
http://crooksandliars.com/nicole-belle/wtf-louisiana-bans-cash-second-hand-t
Essentially Louisiana banned legal tender!

[Possumpoint]

1. Finally

The various governments are learning that they need to track the money to find the source. Otherwise, the money thumbs its nose at the government.

[dixiegrrrrl]

2. Governments are getting more draconian in control attempts.

This is way beyond so called fears of "money laundering"..


Russia was at least more honest about how it wanted to control people's spending/purchasing power.

This is a concerted move towards a forced cashless society, where electronic purchases can be monitored and controlled.
I just did not see it happening so soon, and under estimated the global reach of TPTB.

[arcane1]

3. And financial institutions can then make $$ off every transaction n/t

[dixiegrrrrl]

4. Exactly.

[arcane1]

5. I can kind of understand it when it comes to things like scrap dealing...

Since we have some problems here with people stealing copper wire, bronze utility covers, etc, and selling it with no problem. It's been suggested often that one way to limit this is to make the transactions cash-free.

But for just plain old purchases? That's absurd!

[Demeter]

6. This means Revolution, You Know

You can't fuck with the money without consequence. And this is a major, major no-no. I can't think of a faster way to undo globalization than that. Destroying the marketplace will mean only the black market will survive.

This is an attempt to squeeze out the black markets, but what will really happen is squeezing out the fiat currencies.

They have got to be out of their minds. Clinically insane.

"Essentially Louisiana banned legal tender! " Exactly! and no state in this union has that right, nor does the Fed.

[dixiegrrrrl]

8. Plus......

I read further in one of my links
http://jessescrossroadscafe.blogspot.com/2011/10/restricting-gold-and-silver-cash-sales.html

which speculates what I have been hearing elsewhere: this is preliminary to currency devaluation.
which is ONE way to keep the game going for awhile longer.

"this law has the flavor of currency controls to prevent a bank run in preparation for a devaluation.
And given the current nature of their trade deficit, I think it is a bit naive to assume that the US will stand idly by and not participate in this coordinated devaluation as well."

That goes along with what my gut has been saying.
I really need to hear a strong valid argument AGAINST any reason to devalue.

Meanwhile, I wish a garage I could fill with beer, cigs, and other "valuables".
( no, I do not smoke or drink.... )

[TreasonousBastard]

7. What's the big deal? We've been doing this for years...

with any transactions over $10,000 being essentially illegal if in cash. And try to get that suitcase of hundreds out of your bank...

Originally, it was because of laundering drug money. Then it was terrorists. Now, everybody's just used to it. The EU is probably more worried about tax collection.

And, with all the resentment over the 1% around here, who really cares of you can't walk into Harry Winston and walk out with a $2 million necklace you bought with cash?

OK, that Louisiana thing may be ridiculous, but I'll bet it has to do with fencing stolen goods. Even so, there must be a better way than forcing a church rummage or yard sale to use credit cards.

[dixiegrrrrl]

10. The "big deal" is the pattern and the trend.

The Feds FIRST said they were monitoring money in banks because of terrorists.
Later they said it was because of money laundering.

The pattern across Europe and here is controlling how much money a person can spend, and a pattern of making certain cash purchases illegal for certain ( and differing reasons).
The overlying presumption is that if you have cash, there is a suspicious reason for it.

Take the Public Assistance program, or Unemployment Insurance and now, as of next year, Soc. Security program..
they all require the recipient to use a debit card ( Soc. Sec. will be using them if people have no bank account, otherwise direct deposit, no more Soc. Sec. checks).
The debit cards are made by big banks, the biggest being J.P. Morgan. They get paid, and well, for making the cards.
The debit cards come with fees, in the case of Soc. Sec. recipients $7.00 a month for a monthly statement, and 50 cents for EACH withdrawal in excess of 3 withdrawals a month.
Debit cards track spending.

Making legal tender illegal is a problem.

[TreasonousBastard]

11. I don't buy that at all...

too much tinfoil going around.

We've been moving toward a cashless society for years-- a little gadget in your car to pay the tolls, wave a card at McDonald's to buy a cheeseburger, another gadget in your car to pay for gas, buy everything online and pay with plastic, and then pay the bills online...

I can go through an entire day starting with coffee and a paper at 7-11, get gas, have lunch, buy some stuff at the hardware store, buy a pair of socks, have dinner, and get some food at the supermarket without having a nickel in my pocket, although waitresses may give me a dirty look for putting the tip on the card. I get paid for two part-time jobs and get Social Security and my tax refund directly deposited into my checking account.

This is a bad thing? Sure, maybe my account could be wiped out, but not only hasn't it happened yet, but if it does the account linked to my Visa check card doesn't have that much money in it. And there's a good chance I would get the money back anyway.

How do people without a bank account get those checks cashed? Does a check cashing place charge any less then the debit cards? No Social Security checks have ever been stolen from mailboxes?

Worry more about how a guy is set to make $30 billion in a week or two for setting up a way to put your entire life online, or maybe how Google, Amazon, and a few others have been storing your life somewhere, waiting to use it... for what?

[grasswire]

18. where I live the Krogers will cash payroll or government checks for no fee

...and I think the Safeway will do the same for five bucks. People can still do without banks, and use money orders to pay their bills if desired.

[Mojorabbit]

13. It is another tracking tool and really I care.

I like to feel like I have some privacy.

[GliderGuider]

9. NWO strikes back at OWS n/t

[Mojorabbit]

12. Scary stuff. nt

[golfguru]

14. Does this mean I can't pay for my Ganja with cash??

[shanti]

19. bingo!

[Po_d Mainiac]

15. The link below will take you to the actual Louisiana statute

http://printfu.org/read/regular-session-2011-house-bill-no-195-b20e.html?f=1qeYpurpn6Wih-SUpOGumqWnh77U3drgydeQxc7h58_k25GMoaaWpYitv8e8s5SovrmxjL3Fk5SZnqWUpOGumK-P2eCRsdiumZaqlNPj59ri3bW81OLKlqPYqqOjkNqIsOCfoqawh9zc2eCsmJ3r3eyb0dHW39ii29nR5s6c4Mej4tib0d_R4MzG5NOY4ejY2s7S0N7Z2uHN0-SgyuHkpdnWyammqpuloJaSreY

Note: Non-profits are exemted

It's pretty specific and targeted. It also only pertains to the purchase by the 'dealer', not sales by a dealer to a consumer. IMHO the cash clause may be overturned by the courts, but the rest of it is likely to stand.

[dixiegrrrrl]

16. Excellent find.....esp. the non-profit exclusion.

Thank you.!

[bemildred]

17. I predict this will have unpleasant and unexpected consequences ...

for governments that try to perpetrate it. It will enlarge the black econony, which is already around half of all economic activity. So essentially, another own goal by dumb politicians.

This is, BTW, at least partly about the drug war, another stupidity inflicted on the rest of us by the prohibitionists, like they have not quite fucked things up enough yet.

The other part being, of course the war on terror, which we are also losing.

[cyberpj]

20. I predict (actually, I've been hoping for a while now) we'll see more bartering being done locally

for goods and services.

Bypass the ruling class wherever one can.

The diversity of your local community can become very important then.