France Is Planning To Prohibit Cash Payments Over €1,000

[Gabi]

just look at Greece, Spain and Italy, all these economies have gone into a serious tail-spin since cash transactions became restricted

Nah, at least for Italy i can safely say that our economy (or better, our politic class) was failing even before that. Our problems aren't caused by this restriction.
Yeah, of course this restriction is not helping anyone. But our troubles are not caused by that

[dree12]

just look at Greece, Spain and Italy, all these economies have gone into a serious tail-spin since cash transactions became restricted

Nah, at least for Italy i can safely say that our economy (or better, our politic class) was failing even before that. Our problems aren't caused by this restriction.
Yeah, of course this restriction is not helping anyone. But our troubles are not caused by that

"Looks like the house is on fire!"
"I've an idea! Douse it with petrol!"

[Gabi]

That's true 

[Driice]

The idiocy of governments never ceases to amaze me.

[Monster Tent]

just look at Greece, Spain and Italy, all these economies have gone into a serious tail-spin since cash transactions became restricted

Nah, at least for Italy i can safely say that our economy (or better, our politic class) was failing even before that. Our problems aren't caused by this restriction.
Yeah, of course this restriction is not helping anyone. But our troubles are not caused by that

"Looks like the house economy is on fire!"
"I've an idea! Douse it with petrol paper money!"

FTFY 

[cypherdoc]

In lands as France, Italy, Spain of Greece people don't trust governmants and governments don't trust people....

Regards, Inge

oh geezuz.

[Rothgar]

The video description discusses 6% of world exports.  I always wondered where the world exports to.   

[Kempelen]

Yeah, go try USA health system and then post again, if you managed to pay the insurance and you didn't die because you are poor and you could not pay.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojrQq6yc_2w

[Herodes]

This could be good news for all my French friends over at Bitcoin Central.....

http://www.forbes.com/sites/jonmatonis/2013/02/14/france-plans-to-prohibit-cash-payments-over-e1000/

Sometimes I wonder what kinds of goons run france, first they want google to pay for linking to french newspapers, and now this... Oh my god...

[dserrano5]

Well i also heard that they want to take the €500,- euro bill out of roulation, the reason was, that this only used by criminals and crime related transactions ...WTF.. !!!

They are also coveted by trackers.</shameless_plug>

[Mike Hearn]

Theres a global propaganda campaign underway to demonise cash usage. They are clearly planning to ban cash completely, in the future.

The United Nations are running this video on Bloomberg TV at neary every ad break. Its a ridiculous attempt to associate cash usage, with drugs, terrorism and even child prostitution.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n61uTEBrwjU

I thought this was going to be one of those ultra-right-wing American conspiracy theories when I read that description, but sure enough, that's exactly what the video is!

I doubt they actually set out to make an advert that subliminally demonizes cash. Rather, someone at an ad agency was given the brief "international organized crime, let's put them out of business" and remembered watching Lord Of War. The camera attached to the note that makes its way to an arms dealer is very Lord Of War-esque. But then again, they clearly signed off on it.

Still, people working in the drugs are not economists or online traders. In the perfect world everyone would carefully research and consider all sides of every issue that affects them. In reality that's never going to happen (how many of us are experts on the international arms trade?) so I'd not expect them to consider the impact of demonizing cash very much.

[asdf]

It's not enough to say "tax evasion is high". A good government should:

1) Prove it with data.
2) Show that the area where evasion is high, is actually a significant contributor to overall tax revenues.
3) Provide a convincing calculation of the costs of implementing the proposal.
4) Show that the revenue gained is significantly higher than the costs.

In this case I am skeptical they're doing any such calculations.

dude. it's the government.

[tvbcof]

Theres a global propaganda campaign underway to demonise cash usage. They are clearly planning to ban cash completely, in the future.

...

I thought this was going to be one of those ultra-right-wing American conspiracy theories when I read that description, but sure enough, that's exactly what the video is!

...

It is said that if one does not believe in hell, one cannot go there.  I wonder if a similar principle applies to conspiracies?

It probably is a fact that if/when all economic transactions are PII it will reduce 'crime' by a fair bit.  At least among us proles...or outer members as the case may be.

[Boussac]

A note about taxes: in europe we have a decent public health system

You're trolling right? French health care, for the least, is a catastrophe. I've experienced it first hand. My family too.

You may have had a bad experience but for all I know it's still much better than most places. Simply look at average life expectancy. Health care is not where improvements are needed most in France: bloated banking bureaucracy is where something can be spared.

[johnyj]

This is the same as FDIC, they are trying to prevent people from withdraw large sum of money, since banks are all empty now

[ancore]

Theres a global propaganda campaign underway to demonise cash usage. They are clearly planning to ban cash completely, in the future.

I tend to agree, atleast in the EU. I get the feeling that some circles would actually make it happen today if they could. Yet at the same time I can't believe that they would outright ban it, since there are still a lot of people who have no real alternative to using cash. Also cash transactions still make up the bulk of number of transactions or is this no longer true in the EU (I've read a recent paper from the canadian central bank about it)

This video amazes, I had no idea it was this bad already

I doubt they actually set out to make an advert that subliminally demonizes cash. Rather, someone at an ad agency was given the brief "international organized crime, let's put them out of business" and remembered watching Lord Of War. The camera attached to the note that makes its way to an arms dealer is very Lord Of War-esque. But then again, they clearly signed off on it.

Are you sure? have you read the ECB paper on virtual currencies, to me it was clear they were putting bitcoin and cash in the same place when it comes to the things in the video. It could be again like you say just an employee of the ECB who thinks such.
Also look at some of the government proposals, in Belgium they had one to prohibit employers to pay their workforce in cash for example
I thought the banknotes where the star of the add

slightly off topic if cash gets banned, won't this hurt bitcoin's anonimity?

[tvbcof]

Theres a global propaganda campaign underway to demonise cash usage. They are clearly planning to ban cash completely, in the future.

I tend to agree, atleast in the EU. I get the feeling that some circles would actually make it happen today if they could. Yet at the same time I can't believe that they would outright ban it, since there are still a lot of people who have no real alternative to using cash. Also cash transactions still make up the bulk of number of transactions or is this no longer true in the EU (I've read a recent paper from the canadian central bank about it)

This video amazes, I had no idea it was this bad already

Actually it would be doing the backward poor people who don't have alternatives to cash a favor to issue them debit cards and even to re-charge them from time to time in order to help them survive.  Doing so will also protect the rest of us from the ill effects of the vices that permeate the existence of these folks.

I don't know about other 'developed' countries, but I am sure that the message will be well received and highly resonant in the fat middle of the United States population.

[whitenight639]

Actually it would be doing the backward poor people who don't have alternatives to cash a favor to issue them debit cards and even to re-charge them from time to time in order to help them survive.  Doing so will also protect the rest of us from the ill effects of the vices that permeate the existence of these folks.

I don't know about other 'developed' countries, but I am sure that the message will be well received and highly resonant in the fat middle of the United States population.

What the fuck do you mean by that?


Do you work for JP morgan or Mastercard by any chance?

[tvbcof]

Actually it would be doing the backward poor people who don't have alternatives to cash a favor to issue them debit cards and even to re-charge them from time to time in order to help them survive.  Doing so will also protect the rest of us from the ill effects of the vices that permeate the existence of these folks.

I don't know about other 'developed' countries, but I am sure that the message will be well received and highly resonant in the fat middle of the United States population.

What the fuck do you mean by that?

I don't write in a way that everyone can easily understand, but a certain percentage of those here could probably figure it out.  If they've not figured it out for themselves already.

Do you work for JP morgan or Mastercard by any chance?

Nope.  I observe and comment.  It brings me pleasure so I'll continue as long as it is possible and not completely unsafe to my health and welfare.

---

Edit: add following observation by Goring which I've always liked.  It's about war, but is just as applicable to the (likely) attempt to get rid of cash:

"...But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy or a fascist dictatorship or a Parliament or a Communist dictatorship."

...Interviewer mentions people's power of will in a Democracy...

"Oh, that is all well and good, but, voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same way in any country."

[vdragon]

This could be good news for all my French friends over at Bitcoin Central.....

http://www.forbes.com/sites/jonmatonis/2013/02/14/france-plans-to-prohibit-cash-payments-over-e1000/

 Well the whole world is turning against cash. But, people like the feelinf of money