Thursday, October 20, 2011

Legal Tender No Longer Legal


Written on the face of U.S. Currency in all capital letters is this statement:  “THIS NOTE IS LEGAL TENDER FOR ALL DEBTS, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE.”  With the passing of H.B. 195, in the State of Louisiana, legal tender is not always legal.  The law prohibits the use of cash to buy or sell second-hand merchandise.  Ostensibly, the bill, by forcing people to use a check, money order or electronic transfer, will provide a paper trail for police to track criminal activity.  However, it is most likely that only law-abiding businesses such as Goodwill, Salvation Army Stores, Veterans Thrift Shops, Flea Markets, and their law-abiding customers will be affected.  Also, the cost of checks, money orders and electronic transfers is sure to rise when people are forced to use them. 
Anyone, who thinks criminals will leave a paper trail or stop their illegal activities because this law says they cannot use cash, is dreaming, but the cost and inconvenience to law-abiding people, the undermining of our currency and the abrogation of individual freedom to conduct business in private, is no dream.
To paraphrase a saying from the Gun Rights Advocates:  “When cash is outlawed, only outlaws will have cash.”

Jim
www.jim-mac.com

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