I found this article interesting. Notice the phrase " by the turn of the century", "Every 10 years", " the presence of a strip inside the paper that can be read by a scanner." So, to answer a question of someone in an earlier thread, the new bills could be detected. Also, anyone remember when was the last time our government recall old currency?

The New $100 Bill-Conspiracy or Honest Reform? by Martin Armstrong

The new US $100 bill is causing quite a stir not merely inside the United States but also around the world. Full-scale currency panics are under way in a number of countries with particular significance in Russia where over $20 billion of US currency circulates freely as part of the money supply.

Jumping on an international flight from the US these days brings this issue of a panic to light. The US Treasury has been launching a massive advertising campaign trying to reassure the world public that the old $100 is still legal tender and will continue to be so in the future.

Cancelling the currency once every 10 years forces the public to redeem their notes thus thwarting the efforts of tax evaders who stockpile cash in their safety-deposit boxes. This, at least, does not appear to be the purpose of the Treasury at this time. Nonetheless, it is an option that they are very much aware of and can become reality perhaps by the turn of the century.

Domestic concerns are centered around the presence of a strip inside the paper that can be read by a scanner. With the proper equipment, it will be possible to determine how much cash someone has on his person. This, however, does not appear to be a major risk of privacy at this time. Nonetheless, it is a valid concern for the future when budget get tight and government is desperate for revenue. Part of the penalty for not declaring the amount of cash on your person at customs includes the government's right to confiscate the funds entirely. That does offer a big advantage over merely taxation

In the final analysis, the introduction of the new $100 bill may have something to do with conterfeiting. However, the risk is clear that at some point in the future the government could very well demonitize the old $100 note as we enter the century.

The link: http://www.pei-intl.com/Publications/US/MA0496.HTM

-- Ray (Ray@abc.com), November 11, 1999

Answers

"The goal is clear. If the majority are forced into the electronic system of banking, then the government will be able to more efficiently collect its share of revenue."

That is certainly true, but this was written in 1996, and that is really only a very small piece of a much larger picture. Since that time it has also become shockingly obvious that the controlling forces within our financial system are creating an Orwellian reality that will eventually allow them to know everything about each and every one of us. Those who are in the positions that command the most power and influence over our society view humans as just another commodity, not unlike automobiles, cattle, or barrels of oil. Their intention is to control and modify the human race, filtering out the good from the bad, refining us as crude oil is refined into premium gasoline in order to increase efficiency, in an effort to further maximize their power and profits. This is no longer paranoia, it is reality, though many are still unaware as they feed their personal information into global databases, that eventually even their most personal rights will be dictated by "the system." Convincing the public to make the transition to electronic money is nearly complete, and soon all cash will be destroyed. Once that is done, our entire sense of financial security, and ultimately our ability to survive, will be trapped within their computer system, and we will have no choice but to comply with whatever requirements they choose to impose upon us.

If you haven't seen the movie "Gattaca" yet, definitely rent it and check it out. It seems like we are just within a few years of that becoming reality.

-- Hawk (flyin@high.again), November 11, 1999.

This article is by Martin Armstrong? THE Martin Armstrong that is now behind bars awaiting trial on scamming Japanese investors???? Looks like it, he USED to work for PEI until his being put in the slammer. (I think that he was originally allowed out on bail, but was apprehended real quick-like when it was discovered he had a lot of "reserve assets" running around that would allow him to flee. I think ... been awhile since I read of this.)

Anyway, who in their right mind would be stockpiling cash in $100s? Or, for that matter $50s? Even $20s are too big, go for $10s and below (like down to pennies), they are the best to have when cash becomes scarce so you don't have to worry about getting change back, plus they don't have that strip.

-- King of Spain (madrid@aol.cum), November 11, 1999.

There is an important check&balance that will kick in if TPTB decide to make things to uncomfortable for us. Its called revolution, and its worked almost every time.

-- a (a@a.a), November 11, 1999.

Hey King!

Check again! $5 and $10 both have the strip -- only $1's are strip-less these days......

-- Anita Evangelista (ale@townsqr.com), November 11, 1999.

Ray: >>>Part of the penalty for not declaring the amount of cash on your person at customs includes the government's right to confiscate the funds entirely. That does offer a big advantage over merely taxation<<<< Not entirely correct! The declaration requirement is for more than $10k. Read it often enough.

-- W (debunk@my.com), November 11, 1999.