ND Legislature To Decide If Cash Is King.

The North Dakota Legislature is set to debate whether it should be illegal to operate a business that doesn't accept payments with cash.

Let me throw in my two cents.

Cash drives me crazy. Money doesn't drive me nuts, but CASH money does.

Let's say I had $7.25 in my pocket.  I can almost guarantee that the amount of my next purchase will be $2.26.  Meaning I have to use the five dollar bill.  My change will be two dollar bills, two quarters, two dimes, and four pennies.  I started with 3 bills and one coin, but after making the purchase, I now have 4 bills and 9 coins jangling in my jeans.

Silly isn't it?

So I'm a dedicated debit card user.  I don't have the big bulky wallet.  I have my drivers license and my debit card and I'm out the door.

For a variety of reasons, many businesses are considering going cashless.  I remember there was a coin shortage over the summer, not sure if that's a thing anymore. Working a register is part of my girl Brenda's job.  Even before COVID, I always poked fun at her handling all those "dirty nickels".  Is cash a COVID spreader?  Here's a scientific article that maybe you could read and tell me what it says. (I got a little lost in the second paragraph). Is going cashless done in part for staff safety?  No more making a late night cash deposit at some bank drive through.

Doesn't matter what the reason is- it's your business and you decide how to run it.

Not so fast independent entrepreneurs...the Associated Press reported this-

Rep. Ben Koppelman introduced HB 1299 this week with GOP lawmakers in both chambers signing on as co-sponsors. The legislation would bar businesses from refusing to accept cash from someone making an in-person purchase. Businesses that fail to comply could face fines of up to $250 for a first violation and $500 for any repeated violation.

Before we all go flying off the handle about regulation and government interference in independent business practices, there is some credence to the argument that not everyone has a debit card.

Rep. Ben Koppleman echoed that position with a comment in the AP story saying that going cashless...

 “disenfranchises low income, some elderly and those who truly love freedom,”

It's always about freedom isn't it?  Or is it about eggs?  Ben sums it up.

“This is chicken and egg, I don’t think we should have all our eggs in one basket.”

Unless you can buy the basket with cold hard cash.

Remember when a new year started, and that first week you always screwed up on the year when writing out a check?

Remember checks?