Why we do it:

Privacy and tracking

Authoritarians ban books, track people’s entertainment consumption, and trace movements. They also seize bank accounts and freeze identity documents. When you use credit cards you facilitate these activities at a level only dreamed of in eras past. You also leave a record — the book you purchase today may someday be a red flag. Get in the habit of using cash regularly. Normalize its use so it doesn’t stand out. Use it whenever you buy something that might someday be banned, but also use it at other times so the use of cash doesn’t become a red flag itself.

Funding Resistance

Seizing assets is a time-honored way to fight criminal behavior. We seize boats used to run drugs, and freeze bank accounts tied to terrorists. While abuses have always existed (particularly to the property seizure laws) under authoritarianism resistance itself will be outlawed. Many laughed when Trump unilaterally declared Antifa a terrorist organization, but this is the first step to seizing the assets of anyone with ties to resistance. Cash is an essential way to continue functioning.

Fight Capitalism

Credit cards cost small businesses around 3% of each transaction. With increasingly small margins to stay in business, many places now add this fee directly, but this angers customers so many also suck it up. Ask small businesses if they prefer cash payments. Many do, though some operate cash-free to avoid theft risk.

Tip in cash too. Tipped workers are taxed on actual tips received, or on a minimum percentage of sales. When someone stiffs them, it costs them money. By tipping in cash you make up for those losses. Also offer cash for micro-transactions like buying flowers at the farmer’s market. Put some control back in the hands of our smallest business owners.