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Re:The failure of self-checkout technology by cityofdelusion on Wednesday January 17, 2024 @02:42AM (#39024551)
You need to stop generalizing.

Plenty of large swathes of the U.S. have plastic cards, e-invoiced bills, and yes, even zero-cost non-drivers ID cards which work across state lines, along with several forms of national ID if one chooses. Hardly anyone writes checks or uses physical mail — a common joke is that you have to buy a pack of 50 envelopes to send 1 letter every few years. Widespread cash is a benefit, not a demerit, as it gives one purchasing power even if out in the countryside with zero internet — indeed the physical dollar is so powerful that I can take it nearly anywhere in the Americas and spend it directly, down to the poorest most remote villages.

Re:The failure of self-checkout technology by workfromspace on Wednesday January 17, 2024 @05:53AM (#39026073)
You may be right about generalizing the US, but

> even if out in the countryside with zero internet

I think I can safely say even the remote countryside of any part of Europe has card payments now.