TexasCHLforum.com

Just to throw in an odd bit of cash-related trivia:

One of the reasons that American paper currency has been redesigned over the past
few years with new anti-counterfeiting features is to undermine the North Korean
governments active counterfeiting of US currency.

What the North Koreans do is pack their diplomatic pouches with fake US bills.
The diplomatic pouches are immune to searches by any country's LEO's.
Then the diplomats pass the bad paper in many foreign countries, whose citizens
aren't nearly as savvy as Americans at ID'ing the bad paper.

SIA

India is currently offering a generous tax amnesty and getting millions of dollars
paid to the government because of it.

Indians refer to cash money which is not monitored by the government as "black money."

The cash economy in India isn't simply limited to small transactions at small businesses.

Indians commonly bring 1 or more suitcases full of cash to buy vehicles, and even real estate!

One of the reasons the amnesty is causing a lot of people to pay up is because the Indian
federal government is really tightening up tax enforcement, and this is the last chance to get
right with the feds on one's tax obligations. One of the new laws/regulations will enforce a
100% fine on "black money" on which no tax has been paid.

SIA

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p045wgdl

The above link is an interesting 50 minute documentary piece, made by the BBC,
regarding the pros and cons of ending actual cash money. South Korea intends to
be totally cash free by 2020.

A Northern European criminal raid on a cash site resulted in the theft of millions in currency, prompting
that country to go almost 100% non-cash.

PROS of going non-cash: Less physical needs for security, armored car runs, computerized efficiency.

CONS of going non-cash: The government can track every single one of our purchases. Banks are
scoundrels when it comes to stealing money (2008 financial meltdown/recent Wells Fargo misdeeds).
If the feds decide to confiscate your electronic assets, you are up the creek without a paddle.

One of the reasons that banks would like to discourage using cash is that a real dollar deposited in a bank
can generate 9 times its worth by generating other loans. I'm not an economist with more detail, but
you get the idea.

I am pro-cash. It really irks me when some fool in front of me at 7-11 uses a debit card to purchase
a $1.00 item, the card isn't accepted, they have to re-enter their PIN, and otherwise waste my time.
People ought to take out $20 or $40 each payday from their ATM and use cash for the small things.
I've got things to do and places to be. Move it along people.

Rant off.

SIA