Are we moving toward a cashless society? That would add an interesting twist to internet as a control mechanism. Many are alarmed over the increase use of debit and credit cards for currency transactions. We are also encouraged to use direct deposit for paychecks and tax returns.
Police can detain people and their money if they are carrying too much cash. This article from PriceEconomics talks about the issue as does this one from DailySIgnal. It is illegal seizure and a violation of the 4th Amendment that states:
“The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized”
Our government has been gutting our Bill of RIghts for some time now.
A related issue; the de-funding of the US Postal service. Washington Monthly did a recent story on Trump’s disdain for the US Postal Service. Efforts to privatize mail has been going on in earnest since 2002. Gotta protect that right for someone with a lot of money to make more money right?
Currently “It is by geography and volume the globe’s largest postal system, delivering 47% of the world’s mail” according to facts.ups.com, The USPS provides a necessary service. Mail is delivered to service members all over the world.
When pointing to the budget problems opponents like to blow things out of proportion. In 2019 the USPS pulled in $71.1 billion in revenues, giving it a shortfall of $8.81 billion. The problem is Congress has to approve stamp price increases. Obviously stamp prices must go up or the taxpayer has to shoulder some of the burden. Congress gets to make that decision. $8.81 billion sounds like a lot of money. For Fiscal Year 2020, the Department of Defense’s budget authority is approximately $721.5 billion. $8.81 billion is small change.
The thing to remember; this is about freedom. The government’s internet nose does not need to be in the middle of American citizen’s business and private communications and legally does not have the basis to do so. The excuses about the budget or the dogma of privatization are a cover for the movement toward a country people won’t be able to function in without a electronic record.