Since when is cash unacceptable?

I had a very scary incident take place while taking a family vacation this summer.

My children and I were on a six-hour flight and the attendants came around with portable video players for passengers to rent. I thought that it would make the flight more bearable for my youngest, so I told the attendant I would like one.

This is where it gets scary. The attendant asked me for a credit/debit card. I pulled out my wallet and removed bills, nay not only bills, but green American currency. She told me that the flight was a cashless flight and that they only take plastic.

How can this be? On a flight from Seattle to Florida, not even leaving the United States, I am being told that they will not take U.S. currency? I have never owned a credit card, I did not even have a checking account. I have always believed that cash was the best way to keep out of debt. When I look back at the writings of our forefathers, I see that gold and silver coin are the only acceptable currency, then our bills begin getting printed with silver certificate printed on them.

Now that is removed and businesses, in this case the airline, will not accept American currency. Is this just a beginning in phasing out cash money? I find this very disturbing and question the legality of it.

Perhaps our government will endorse businesses’ rights as it forces more Americans to live the American reality of getting into debt. Misery loves company, right?

Gary Beane

Gold Bar