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Oh. Very sorry. I thought this was another Pam Anderson thread . . . |
Posted on 07/23/2004 11:18:57 AM PDT by BluegrassScholar
Whenever state trooper Michael Poupart pulls over a speeding motorist on I-94 in Wisconsin's Kenosha County, he offers to take Visa or MasterCard debit and credit cards right there on the side of the road.
Drivers initially look puzzled, until the trooper explains he has a card swiper onboard. "Then they say 'OK,' and hand over the card," he says. "They'd rather deal with it right there."
Trooper Poupart is one reason the nation passed a watershed last year. For the first time, Americans used cards -- credit, debit and others -- to buy retail goods and services more often than they used cash or check in 2003.
The nation now uses cards to subscribe to cable TV, pay taxes and hire Phil Marlowe, a 17-year-old in Tyngsboro, Mass., to cart stuff in the back of his Chevy Silverado. He carries a cellphone with a "PowerSwipe" snapped onto the back to handle his card transactions. His sales roughly doubled when he started advertising credit-card acceptance on the side of his truck. "One lady gave me a $30 tip just because I accepted cards," he says.
Vending machines, subway systems and charities now accept cards. The government is handing out cards in lieu of food stamps and child-support disbursements. Hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons is marketing a service that lets people put their paychecks directly onto a Visa card, giving consumers without bank accounts access to plastic.
At "Da Money," an online chat room where consumers trade financial tips, participants recently touted the benefits of Mr. Simmons's card. "For the Ladies, YES! There is a...'pre-paid' VISA credit card and it is PINK!" said one writer. "Let Puff Daddy top that!!!''
By letting consumers buy things with unprecedented convenience and speed, cards have transformed the economy. They have helped keep consumer spending strong even through terror attacks and recessions. When people pay with plastic, they tend to spend more -- often more than they have in the bank. Thus, credit cards also have fueled an explosion in consumer debt. It is expected to hit $838 billion this year, an increase of 6.8% from 2003 and more than double what it was ten years ago.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
Well, of course. Sometimes its such a pain in the a$$ to get money out of your bank account that if you can't buy it right there you don't. Hence why, as a teenager, before I had ATM or credit cards, I didn't carry anymore cash than needed for the task at hand.
Not if you only use a bank debit card. If there isn't any money in the bank, you can't spend it, unlike a credit card. I very rarely use cash any more. It doesn't make sense to go all the way to an ATM to pull out cash, when I can use the very same debit card at the store & money comes from the same account. As a result of rarely using cash, and rarely receiving change from purchases, I haven't been able to fill in very many o the state quarters on the boards I purchased for my kids.
BTW, I pay all my bills using my computer, so I also very rarely use checks.
"Whenever state trooper Michael Poupart pulls over a speeding motorist on I-94 in Wisconsin's Kenosha County, he offers to take Visa or MasterCard debit and credit cards right there on the side of the road."
Anyone else see something wrong with this scenario? When I would have to drive to Port Fourchon LA for work I knew many who were stopped in Golden Meadow. Apparently they threatened not to let people go until they paid their fines (for speeding) and then charging an additional 5-10% for using a credit card. As if people routinely travel around with a couple of hundred bucks in their pockets.
You want me to pay with plastic? Wow, and here I thought you wanted real money. If plastic is all they want I have plenty in my trash can they can have.
Every day brings us one step closer to Revelation...
Revelation
16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
I am doing the same thing, my bills seem to pay themselves. I think its the best thing going, and at least I know where my card has been.
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Oh. Very sorry. I thought this was another Pam Anderson thread . . . |
Start the engine back up and drive off!
It most likely brings in more $$$ because folks won't be as likely to protest the ticket. Watch for this practice to increase along with more questionable stops.
My thoughts too. Odd they want cash to let bums out of jail but will quickly swipe a card from Mr and Mrs Clean Cut American for a broken tail light. I guarantee the amount of tickets will greatly increase simply because of the income it will generate.
Are the same people who are whipping out the plastic the same ones whining about the loss of privacy?
I seldom carry cash any more. It's just far more convenient to use the debit card.
I swear, there are folks who think the president sneezing is a sign of the end times.
This story reminded me of what would happen when I'd get pulled over for speeding by a cop in Mexico. Only there, the cop wanted cash to "take care of the problem". And the price was usually negotiable.
I believe the problem abated somewhat in 2002-2003 because a lot of the oil companies were complaining that their employees were getting tickets for 2mph over the speed limit etc.
No one ever talks about God's mark...just the Beast's. Why? Both are figurative. A carryover of symbolism from when the Jews wore a phylactory (sp?) on their foreheads to signify their belief.
Both of you nailed why we are shifting from cash to credit and debit cards.
I have paid my bills via Check Free for over decade and recently went to my bank's electronic payment system which is probably Check Free's and it is free.
Just yesterday I renewed the license on my wife's Lexus on the computer and Ca's DMV slick new program that allowed me to use my credit card. DMV is a nightmare and paying via AAA requires driving to AAA and standing in line to write a check. It took longer to fill out the survey form to see how I felt about the new system.
Last week, we had 3 daughters of friends get married. I sat down with the computer and went to the store sites, where they were registered. My wife decided what to send them. All three received their presents and either called to say thanks or sent an email.
Our monthly Dish tv bill, Opex long distance bill and a couple of minor bills are paid automatically via a credit card. I don't even have to use the electronic bill paying system. I would love to see PG&E, SBC and our local utilities go to credit card billing and payment.
If I could live the rest of my life without messing with money and change, I would be happy.
Plastic not massive amounts of inert silicon!:)
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