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Optimist Economy

Optimist Economy

Can the U.S. Go ‘Cashless?’

May 12, 2026 · 44m

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Cash is dirty, inconvenient, and so last century. Some 70% of Americans under age 50 think its days are numbered. But we still need those greenbacks, if as an alternative to banks. More than 4% of households are “unbanked,” and three times as many are “underbanked,” meaning bank services mostly don’t work for them, so rely on services like check cashers or payday lenders. And that's before you get to the racial disparities in who banks approve for credit. Reviving banking services at the post office might be one way to help the unbanked and keep from handing yet more power to the finance sector. Chapters: 00:00:48 Announcements 00:02:30 Retcon: Semiquincentennia 00:03:35 Terms & Conditions:…