Money is an intangible based more on consumer’s confidence than in the economic and financial base that supports its real value, although this base, of course, is essential to hold its value. Therefore, for practical purposes, there is no real difference between a piece of paper or a piece of rectangular plastic. It all depends on these two fundamental factors. The problem of replacing paper with plastic rests primarily in the fact that the State issues paper money, while private companies, especially banks, issue credit (or debit) cards. In the first case, it is an instrument to handle and control economic stability, while in the second case it is a lucrative business that feeds consumerist exceses that often lead to increased debt and the capital loss suffered by consumers having to pay substantial interests. That is why it is so interesting the article that follows, which focuses on the forceful way banking and financial interests are driving a transformation that stimulates even more dangerous consumerism. 
War on Cash 2.0 — Visa Now Paying Businesses to Stop Taking Cash
July 18.– According to the most recent data, Visa — which is mostly owned by banks–accounts for over 50 percent of all credit card transactions and 70% of all debit card transactions in the world. Hundreds of billions in transactions process through Visa’s databases every year and this number continues to grow.
Despite their overwhelming increase in market share, cards issued, and overall total volume, Visa has made a recent move that shows they intend to completely snub out their most unaccountable, untraceable, and most liberty-associated competitor and means of payment–cash.
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