for STRAIGHT TALK
CAROL McGIFFIN
THE WAY I SEE IT... Wise words from our feisty, fearless and funny columnist
‘Few things scare or worry me more than the idea of a cashless society, which appears to be almost upon us thanks to some clever marketing. It’s been sold with convenience and security as its main selling points and people are buying into it because it is both of those things, until, of course, it isn’t.
I get why they think this. Bulky wallets and purses that are easily stolen would be no longer necessary, all you need is your phone, which is secured with an image of your face or a PIN. Which is, in itself, another very sinister and fallible aspect. Because when the power goes down, which it will a lot with the move towards green energy, not only is there no way to pay, but potentially, all access to your money has gone too.
I don’t partake in any of it. I won’t put a card on my phone, I never do contactless payments, I always use cash and I won’t leave the shop until I’ve got a receipt.
It enrages me that supermarkets now have about 20 DIY card-only checkouts to every cash-accepting, manned one. Also, that you often can’t park a car without a phone.
And recently I found myself stranded miles from home because I had no cards and was unable to buy a train ticket with cash.
All of this is happening because they (the people who rule over us with an iron fist) are making it happen.
It will give them more power to control what we spend and what we spen
