(THIS ARTICLE IS MACHINE TRANSLATED by Google from Norwegian)
Get rid of cash? Although most of us use cash less often, there is something suspicious when banks and politicians want to get rid of them. It shows a deeper mental trend in an increasingly technological and technological society. Here it lies more than a practical way of thinking, as the Executive Vice President of DNB can obviously express it. Trond Bentestuen (see front page) also knows, without saying it, what control you want to achieve over the bank's customers. The proposal by Erna Solbergs would give the state and banks complete overview or control over the citizens' money.
And here lies the crux of the matter. We are talking about a mentality, a kind of biopolitics, a modern desire to control the bodies of citizens. Historically, the authorities were more disciplinary, using funds such as cane and whip; In today's modern Norway, such instruments have been replaced with ingenious devices such as taxes and new technology. Thus, the rulers have gained an advanced control apparatus over most movements – the so-called control society. I'm not just talking about bank accounts, GPS, Facebook, Google and surveillance cameras. Many control devices are growing slowly but surely, with "security" as the new mantra.
Certain people of power will take away our independence, our control over our own lives. To be able to have physical savings if the banking system goes over? No. Being able to act without being tracked by government or commercial interests? No. Being able to stay out of debt-ridden society (see page 3), where the bubble has to burst once? No.
If you monitor the electronic money, you can know everything about you. Similar to how biobanks can reveal your weaknesses and illnesses, money banks and payment systems can map your buying patterns and who you support financially. Like how certain mobile apps are now mapping you on the road, intelligence and PST can gather patterns of what you do.
But with the elimination of cash, some will also fall outside the system. And if you are outside the system, you get a cash rebate, you are rejected. This does not only apply to elderly people who do not have flips or smartphones. Or beggars without a payment terminal. Or my friend who is constantly cheering up the local community, but has not had a bank account for the last ten years. We are talking about minorities, those who are different, whole environments that do not fit into a totalitarian mindset where you should behave as the average, being like most people.
But the basic idea of democracy is precisely to protect minorities, including liberals who ask to be at peace from the majority. Protecting both those who cannot be counted on and those who think and want to act differently – in other words, protect the living conditions of these highly human beings.
Central bank governor Øystein Olsen recently stated to Aftenposten Insikt: "For example, one could imagine a system where payment goes directly from payer to recipient, without taking a long round via the banks and Norges Bank." Does he mean that in civil society we take over this, with things like crypto-currency? No. He talks about digital central bank money, that is, issued by Norges Bank. I would rather vote for crypto-currency, bitcoin and other similar forms of payment to be handled by civil society, using modern networking technology. The monetary value can be guaranteed via, for example, 40 points in a civil electronic internet via blockchain technology. In this way one can maintain a distant and healthy skepticism towards the governors of banks and authorities governmentality. Especially when we know that banks hold only five percent of the capital on our deposits, and that the private bank guarantee fund does not really guarantee up to two million of our bank accounts in the event of a new banking crisis, as they only hold five percent of these deposits. So who can we trust?
That the cash should go away is defended by the prime minister by taking the criminals and stifling the black economy. Again: Yes, right? When under 2,5 percent of all transactions are made with cash? No, it is time with greater confidence that civil society can maintain its own payment systems, or encourage you to keep cash and gold outside of banks 'and governments' leverage and governance. The way someone collects canned food in the event of a crisis, ordinary citizens, too, should be able to have the same opportunities when the financial system bursts next time – before again sending the bill to the taxpayers.
The proposal for the cash-free society is an example of the thinking among the governing bodies. This one eats at us, lets us not breathe freely, does not leave us at peace. Instead of freedom and solidarity, this is the new biopolitics, the so-called "welfare". But it is not reminiscent of being able to travel well.
Also read: Cash free – and totalitarian og The battle for cash.
