MEDIA ROOTS — Many of us notice our society’s shift away from the use of anonymous cash and toward the use of databeast-tracked digital money.  But many are unaware that there are steps already being taken to outlaw cash in favour of debit/credit cards and digital transactions.  In Louisiana, House Bill 195 of the 2011 Regular Session (Act 389) was passed this summer by its State Legislature and Republican Governor Bobby Jindal.  This law makes it illegal to use cash in transacting second-hand goods.  The question becomes, ‘who actually motivated this law and why?’ 

The bill states:

“A secondhand dealer shall not enter into any cash transactions in payment for the purchase of junk or used or secondhand property.  Payment shall be made in the form of check, electronic transfers, or money order issued to the seller of the junk or used or secondhand property and made payable to the name and address of the seller.  All payments made by check, electronic transfers, or money order shall be reported separately in the daily reports required by R.S. 37:1866.”

Ackel & Associates LLC, a professional law firm in Louisiana, describes the new legislation as the U.S. Government taking private property without due process.  As one may have expected, the justifying pretext involves police crime-fighting. One Louisiana State Rep co-author of the bill, Rickey Hardy, argued the law is intended to be “a mechanism to be used so the police department has something to go on and have a lead” in combating theft.  Yet, while local cops take no interest in white-collar crime, even shielding major financial criminals from nationwide Occupy Movement protests, they will definitely be ready to bust thrift shops, local antique stores, flea markets, and anyone who dares to use cash in second-hand retail transactions in Louisiana.

Already, we see class-division in the U.S. reflected between those who make virtually all purchases through digital transactions and those who rely on cash.  Here’s one possible scenario:  First an individual legislator (with or without external influence) establishes a precedent under law enforcement pretexts in a state, which may not often capture the national imagination.  Then it spreads to other states.  Unchecked, something that seemed outlandish at first becomes orthodox convention.  First, second-hand cash transactions are outlawed.  Then the slippery slope slide into fully outlawing cash becomes inevitable.  It may sound like a far-fetched concept, but in light of this legislative trajectory it’s not implausible.

Messina

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NATURAL NEWS — Besides prohibiting the use of cash, the law also requires such “dealers” to collect personal information like name, address, driver’s license number, and license plate number from every single customer, and submit it to authorities. And the only acceptable form of payment in such situations is a personal check, money order, or electronic transfer, all of which must be carefully documented.

The stated purpose of the law, which excludes non-profits and pawn shops, is to curb criminal activity involving the reselling of stolen goods, particularly metals such as copper, silver, and gold. But according to A&A, existing Louisiana state law already requires businesses and other resellers of secondhand goods to account for transactions, and has specific laws already on the books that address the selling of stolen goods.

The new law is so broad and all-encompassing that individuals who buy and sell on sites like eBay or Craigslist using cash will also be in violation of it. Even a stay-at-home-mom who holds a garage sale with her neighbors more than once a month could be required to refuse cash from customers, as well as keep a detailed record of every single purchase made, and who made it.

There really is no legitimate reason for banning cash payments, especially in light of the required collection of detailed and excessive personal information. The measure is simply just another excuse for the government to spy on individuals, and take away their economic and civil liberties.

Read more about Louisiana prohibits residents from using cash when buying, selling secondhand goods.

© 2011 Natural News Network

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