Sweden aims to be cashless society

[Lars77]

Swedes are amongst the technologically savvy people on the planet, based on their high rates of use of mobile phones and internet banking.

In fact, only three per cent of all financial transactions in the country are made using cash these days.

Even public transport tickets can now be pre-paid using mobile phone technology, and most people use similar services to pay for everything from groceries to major purchases.

Al Jazeera's Linda Nyberg reports from Stockholm.

[Ineeda]

1. Is this good or bad?

I'm re-reading The Handmaid's Tale after many years. Maybe that's why I'm thinking a totally cashless society isn't a good thing.
For those of you who haven't read this dystopian book, or have forgotten, it's about a creepy, fundamentalist society that first gained control by freezing women's access to their money. It goes downhill from there, mostly but not exclusively, for women. Frankly, this books scares me much more on the second reading. When I read it back in the eighties, it was a never-gonna-happen read. Now, it hits way too close to possible. It's making me paranoid!

[Spitfire of ATJ]

7. The main problem with a cashless society is everyone's wealth is in the hands of the system,...

...and documented. No more hoarding cash in a mattress. No more saving your change for a vacation. You have to turn it ALL over to a bank. On the bright side it's tough to show up for a Miami Vice type buy with a case stuffed with Benjamins and bank robberies would be pointless. Just look at the wide spread use of debit cards. There has been a dramatic drop in muggings.

However, this will hurt the poor who depend of the charity of others. Imagine hitting rock bottom and begging on the streets for,...what? An electronic transfer? Are people going to beg with an app on a cell phone?

[Heather MC]

2. I have been living a mostly cashless life for almost 10 years thanks to

Debit cards being treated like a credit card. Parking in DC is done on my phone.
the only time I use cash is for Craigslist purchases. In fact when i sell stuff on C-list I put it in the bank. I really have no use for cash in my daily life.

Only because I am more like to spend cash haphazardly but I tend to be more responsible with my CC

[BeenThereAndBack]

11. None Too Bright

City people never cease to amaze me.

Cities are hell-holes, voluntary prisons.
I thank the Creator every day because
the vast majority of the 7,000,000,000
choose to concentrate in lowland cities
and leave the mountains to humans.
It is a good arrangement because,
when a 'flood' comes,
city slaves will die
very efficiently.

A 'flood' is an event
natural or political,
that disrupts
food supply.

After three days
the slaves will
kill, kill, kill,
each other.

I felt compelled to write to you
because DC is, in my opinion,
ranks down there with Miami
as the worst city in the USA,
along with, of course, LA.

[Heather MC]

13. Well the only people who think it's that bad don't live here

There's nothing hellish about living here. The theaters, Museums are incredible. The most amazing clubs and night life. Restaurants are amazing here and, 24hr Grocery stores
the best hospitals in the country.

and the most amazing eclectic group of people. I am a country mountain girl and I hated it. The crabs in the bucket mentality, the limited boxed in thinking. NOW I am surrounded by wonderful people, and great friends. I wouldn't change it for the world and if and when the flood comes
I will die happy!

You just seem to be a person who only sees the bad and that's how you live your life I am glad you prefer to keep yourself and your debbie downer attitude out my town!

[DFW]

3. That's nothing I'd want

I noticed that, too when I was up in Stockholm last June.

But all that electronic stuff leaves a trail, so any totalitarian government would know EVERYTHING there is to know about me right down to what brand of dental floss I use. I use cash as much as is practical. Not for cars and hotels, of course, but for taxis, food, household shopping, entertainment, whatever is practical. No government, not even one I support, needs to know EVERYTHING about me. Governments come and go. The information stays recorded forever.

[xtraxritical]

4. Exactly, if you want a Federal flat tax just endorse this policy.

How are you going to pay the weed man? Screw this idea!

[teknomanzer]

5. Some transactions are best kept private.

I don't need the banks or the government knowing all my business.

[BeenThereAndBack]

12. ALL transactions are best kept private

My business is on a need to know basis only.
That never includes any government.
What could I gain by informing
anybody of anything
unless I benefit.

However, I do not want to stop
others from opening their lives
to every Tom, Dick and Harry
with a Government ID Card.
Please leave me alone
with my People.

[DFW]

6. NOt just the weed man. Consider what a government COULD do

Harass and order tax audits at random for people who use toothpaste not made by Republican-contributors. If they know EVERYTHING, then if they want to, they can make use of everything.

In the old East Germany, the government tried to gather as much information on its citizens as they possibly could. Their technology wasn't up to the task, and they drowned in information they never managed to process. But our technology IS up to to the task, especially now, twenty years later. If the Koch brothers make GLOPP toothpaste, I don't want some Republican administration deciding not to repair a water main or a downed electrical line on my street because too many households on my street don't buy GLOPP toothpaste. I never want them to have that option.They know plenty already. The do NOT need to know everything.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

8. Not just the government...

Listen to how the guy DEFINES Crocket and Tubbs by their finances to make them seem small:

[Proles]

9. I'm not sure whether to be frightened by it, or to simply accept it as technological advancement. nt

[BeenThereAndBack]

10. None Too Bright

If the following is not correct, please correct me.
'Real Money' has intrinsic value that cannot be duplicated without work (W = Fd)
Swedes were the first to exchange real money for paper currency.
Swedes are exchanging paper currency for electronic currency.

If the foregoing is correct, the following is correct.
Swedes are the most gullible people on the planet.
If 'gullible' is not the best term, name a better one.