Headlines

Pelosi says election threats from Russia and China are not equal

Trump signs orders aimed at extending some pandemic relief after Congress fails to reach a deal

Centrist Democrats pose a significant roadblock to Biden’s radical climate plans

Poll: Majority of Americans are not wearing masks outdoors

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine again tests negative for coronavirus

U.S. tops 5 million coronavirus cases as outbreak threatens America’s Midwest

National Security Advisor O’Brian issues warning to Americans about Chinese espionage

Gallup: 35% of Americans would not get a coronavirus vaccine

Kudlow: Trump’s executive order will stop evictions

Nearly 80% of credit card holders say they’re concerned about making minimum payments

Trump suspends student loan payments through December 31

Report: Gretchen Whitmer met with Biden in Delaware

STAND UP FOR AMERICA!

Headlines

North and South Korean leaders will meet in Pyongyang next month

Omarosa reveals recording she made of President Trump the day after she was fired

Rudy: Comey lied about Trump metering ... No interview after Sept. 1 ...

Nunes: Clinton campaign colluded with 'nearly ever' top official ar DOJ, FBI

Democrats say 'no thanks' to de Blasio PAC money

What's wrong for Turkey?  Its economy is 'in the midst of a perfect storm'

Feds collect record taxes; still run $683.9B deficit ...

Democratic Socialists defeated in Hawaii Dem primary

Counterprotesters dramatically outnumber white supremicissts at [DC] rally

Saudi Arabia cuts oil production in July despite agreement to hike output

More Americans defaulting on credit cards ...

[Linsey] Graham; 'Investigations against Trump were corrupt to the core'

"Legal Tender ...

For all debts, public and private." Not so fast! Now, increasingly, businesses are not accepting cash payments for goods or services rendered ... they only accept cell-phone-wallet or credit-card payments. Can they do this? What if one doesn't have plastic or a smart phone? Isn't this the same as "voter suppression" ... shopper suppression? I guess it depends on whose Gore is being oxed? Besides our underclasses don't shop the way that we, the privileged class, does ...

I guess I am naive, but I thought that the term "legal tender" printed on the top of our paper currency meant something ... and refusing fiat money would bring the wrath of our Treasury Department down on one. Apparently not ... we live in the cowardly new world of techno-elitists whose disdain for Luddites, like myself, is brutal and unforgiving. One has to wonder if this lax enforcement of our monetary laws has something to do with the huge political donations coming out of Wall Street and Silicone Valley?

To read all about this strange new merchant meme, please visit ... CBS News Story.

Upon reflection, there actually might be one side benefit to this unnerving new commercial custom ... and that is monetary transactions will be everywhere electronically captured. This would mean that more of the shadow economy would be forced into the sunlight ... and, because of sophisticated data mining algorithms, money laundering might get a little more difficult.

Credit Blogging

Your blogger has somewhat anticipated this story -- the French Socialist head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Dominique Strauss-Kahn, has been accused of attempted rape of a New York City hotel chamber maid and his DNA has been collected as evidence.  See: Dominique Strauss-Kahn).  In a post here twelve days ago it was discribed how the U.S. has lent its credit cards to the IMF and the rest of the world (see: The High Cost of Linguica). Now we find out that our credit cards are being used for $3,000 per night suites at swanky New York hotels ... but apparently not for condoms.