All of the Above with James Brown
The James Brown Commentary
Cashless Future
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Cashless Future

The death of checks is nigh

Target just joined the "check zero" club. They're not taking personal checks anymore.

They're not alone. Aldi, Whole Foods, Old Navy, and Lululemon have already made the switch and many more are expected to join them in the months and years to come.

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Why? Well, Scott Anchin from the Independent Community Bankers of America says check fraud is a big issue.

But let's be honest, most of us aren't writing checks anyway. A GoBankingRates survey found only 15 percent of adults wrote a few checks a month in 2023. 46 percent didn't write any at all.

We're tapping and going instead. I know I do. Contactless and digital payments are the new norm.

This shift could hurt some folks though. Older adults and those without bank accounts might struggle. 

But for most of us, it's just another step toward a cashless future. Which I’m incredibly leery of. A cashless society is a society vulnerable to despotic seizure of power.

Yes. You heard me right. A cashless future is ripe for abuse. Let's be careful as we go here. Convenience and freedom are often contradictory 

So, when was the last time you wrote a check? Do you miss them, or are you glad to see them go?

Share your thoughts in the comments and support my work at JamesBrowntv.substack.com.

On that note, I'm Jam.es Brown, and as always, be well.

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All of the Above with James Brown
The James Brown Commentary
Musings on news, life, and television. A few minutes a day, five days a week. Proudly based in Rochester, New York. Brought to you by Modern Fire Studios.