trinsec@piefed.social 3 weeks ago
Cash will always exist. Even though I pay cashless 99% of the time, there's always that little 1% when having a bit of cash on you is useful. It just means any cash on me will last a long time before I even get around to spend it.
And why would there be riots? Spain had zero riots, people were calm from what I've seen.
throwawayacc0430@sh.itjust.works 3 weeks ago
Okay so. Say. There is 2 weeks without power, sudden and unannounced, unpredicted power outage. How will you get food and stuff?
So if people can’t get essential stuff, there would be fear, and with fear, riots are likely to happen. Doesn’t matter how “civilized” or “developed” a country is, everyone has their breaking point.
schnurrito@discuss.tchncs.de 3 weeks ago
The existence of cash is probably the least of one’s problems in that scenario. How is food going to be delivered to stores without working gas pumps? How will stores open their electronic doors or process payments without a cash register?
If this is something you are worried about, store enough non-perishable (eg canned) food in your home so you don’t starve in that scenario.
Lv_InSaNe_vL@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
Gas stations are required to have generators where I am for this exact scenario.
These are legally required to be openable by hand without power in the United States.
Hence the reason why cash still exists.
then_three_more@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
In that scenario most of the food has gone bad anyway and is stuck in distribution centres as the shops can’t send orders up through the supply chain.
Also, without power most places couldn’t take cash. Tills are computers that do all the maths so the 16 year old serving you doesn’t have to they also track inventory going out.
The cash that there is is stuck in banks because the banks have no way of knowing what money is yours as we haven’t had bank books for like 20 years already.
Lv_InSaNe_vL@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
Werd the banks in my state are still required to have bank books specifically for this reason.
then_three_more@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
Presumably even there though they check the details from your book against the computer system, to not only check that the book is accurate and that the branch has enough cash on hand to fulfil your request? The computer system that has had no power for a week.
CHOPSTEEQ@lemmy.ml 3 weeks ago
It’s called a natural disaster and we get along just fine. If the entire planet loses power, there’s nothing to be done, but even if an entire US state loses power, gas generators come online and trucks haul fuel in from long distances. It doesn’t take long for a grocery store or bank to open up with cash withdrawals again.
JackbyDev@programming.dev 3 weeks ago
As if money would be people’s biggest concern of the power wentout everywhere for two weeks.
Zwuzelmaus@feddit.org 3 weeks ago
You go there where it is, and ask. If they trust you enough to pay it later, ok. Otherwise you beg. And beg more.
Flax_vert@feddit.uk 3 weeks ago
Problem is that shops are now faceless corporations who have no idea who you are. It’ll be fine if it was the village grocer’s staffed by the guy you went to school with who was in the year above you, but when nobody knows everyone in an individualistic society, it’s hard to establish trust.
Zwuzelmaus@feddit.org 2 weeks ago
So, You are society today. Your chance to turn it into a different society is now.
Treat people as worthy persons. Start building trustful relationships. Make sure they do not want to see you hungry and suffering and begging.
Start with one.
Guidy@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
This is silly. Absolute worst case, we go back to bartering for goods and services. There will never be a need to panic.
sem@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 weeks ago
I mean there might be reason to panic and a fallback on the barter system, both.