Greece will outlaw large cash transactions in 2011

“From 1. Jan. 2011, every transaction above 1,500 euros between natural persons and businesses, or between businesses, will not be considered legal if it is done in cash. Transactions will have to be done through debit or credit cards”

via HIGHLIGHTS-Greek FinMin unveils tax reform, wage policy | Reuters.

Enjoy cash while you can. I think it’s already pretty common for cash transactions in the US to seem suspicious. At some point, the government will decide that cash is primarily used to avoid taxes and cash will be phased out. As usual, the logic of state economics is pretty easy to predict.

The Young John Adams on conscience

Upon common theaters, indeed, the applause of the audience is of more importance to the actors than their own approbation. But upon the stage of life, while conscience claps, let the world hiss! On the contrary, if conscience disapproves, the loudest applauses of the world are of little value.

John Adams in a letter to Charles Cushing, mid-1750s. Quoted in John Adams By David McCullough