There was a time one could drive around and on various corners find a friendly neighborhood Cash & Carry or Cash & Go grocery store.  These stores provided a convenience for their neighborhoods that was very welcome.  They were not full size, full service grocers but smaller stores one could run in and grab a loaf of bread or gallon of milk and get back home.  The shelves were stocked and they ha d adequate personnel to check you out, take the cash, return change and offer you a smiling farewell and hopes you would return.

My how things have changed.  It wasn’t long ago we began going into the world’s leader in classless merchandising and found double rows of cash registers staffed by the most unpleasant persons that could be found.  Your typical Walmart or Target would have between twenty and thirty cashiering stations, with maybe two or three open for business.  Lines were usually long and slow moving making customers as unhappy as the employees we were about to cope with.  The salesmanship and marketing was genius.  We were sold and eagerly went for the idea we could have shorter, faster lines.  We could check ourselves out just as if we were an employee, and we became employees, unpaid, unappreciated, just another subordinate for the company.  I fully understand capitalism and the desire and need to make money.  I refused to use the self-check-out because I was not their employee.

More recently we have been pushed by merchants and bankers with a drummed up coin shortage.  There is not a shortage.  This is another ploy to cut operating costs.  Counting change takes time and time is money.  Pay as you like just round the amount up to the next dollar, the surplus will be pulled aside and a contribution will be made to benefactor of their choosing.  Now my items cost me more and I make it possible for the large corporation to make charitable donations and take the tax credits for it.  So generous of we the public.

I’ve been hearing about the new push for a cashless society, one in which I prefer not to participate.  Today I visited my local Target store.  I prefer to shop Target because they have less Made in China products in their stores than Walmart and these stores appear to me to be friendlier, cleaner and aisles more inviting for shopping.  I selected the two items I wanted to purchase and walked toward the checkout terminals of which there were eighteen all neatly lined up, but only two were open and both had rather long lines.  Trying to remain pleasant I proceeded to the self-check-out area.  There were six stations and only one was being used.  I stepped up and scanned my items and proceeded to click on pay.  The options for payment included Discover, American Express both Visa and Master Card debit and credit cards as well as cash.  I selected cash.  Immediately I got the message that an associate was on the way to assist me on this transaction.

The nice, pleasant associate smiled and asked if I had correct change for the charges, upon my reply in the negative she asked if I was very close to exact change, again I said no.  She then resorted to inform me I could pay with one of the above listed cards because Target does not accept cash at the self-check-out line.  I was confused but regained my composure quickly and asked her if I should take the items back to the shelf or if she would do it.  She decided to take them for me.

I have heard of stores that are going cashless in line with the advancing cashless society but this was my first encounter.  I felt satisfied having made my point.  I informed them that with this policy I would no longer shop there, they replied “okay.”  Even if I did shop there in the future I don’t think my family that was with me will go next time.  I now wonder if the bankrupt, mismanaged, bloated post office will accept my cash if I were to buy stamps.

I will not succumb to the dictates of a cashless society to be tracked each time I have a transaction nor will I willingly be injected with a vaccine that may or may not include a chip for tracking purposes.  Bill Gates, if the vaccine is that wonderful help develop one that will stop or block those viruses so easily infecting your computer operating systems.  Thank you.

A collection of diverse friends with equally diverse thoughts is the single most interesting way to gain knowledge.

The thoughts and ideas expressed above are exclusively those of Jack Straley and www.justplaintalkwithjack.com  We may agree, and that’s fine, or we may disagree, that’s okay too.  My sole purpose is to encourage others to think, study, and become involved. Exercise your freedom and above all, when presented the opportunity, please vote.