User Power
Value/Post Ratio
455%
- May 1, 2011
- 7,643
- 34,793
Has anyone else noticed how in London they accept cash in fewer and fewer places? Even many street sellers are “card-only” now. 10 years ago I could take a £100 banknote and buy a Christmas market sausage. Now, there’s 0 chance of that happening, even if they aren’t card-only they won’t accept it.
It seems to me that European governments are pulling in the leash on businesses, and turning more socialist so they can monitor and control everything. And of course, the most important thing to monitor and control is the flow of money.
I can’t see myself living outside of Europe, but these aren’t good trends. There is a lot of entrepreneurial activity amongst the young in Europe, but our rulers don’t have our interests in mind. They’d rather we go work for a a corporation like BMW.
Go to Berlin. It's the most backward city I've ever been to in Europe. Many restaurants accept ONLY cash. Even a freaking national museum accepts only cash.
I don't have any problem paying with a card and I don't like paying by cash. It takes more time, I have to carry sufficient cash (but am always limited by how much cash I have on me), and I don't have any record of how much I paid and where (as opposed to a bank statement that helps track expenses). Withdrawing cash also often costs money while paying by card doesn't (at least doesn't cost me as a customer).
Most people probably have the same reasoning as I do and it has nothing to do with being controlled or not. It's just way more convenient.
Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum:
Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.