1974 Money Plus

There was a day when you could mail cash to someone you owed money to. The US Mail was sacrosanct, and anyone that messed with it was prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
If they were caught.
Which they often weren't since how did anyone know you actually sent the money. So folks turned to telegraph or money orders. That's when money started to cost you money.
Flash forward to now. Businesses prefer you pay online. So far it's a free service. Saves them time and hassles and the funds are transferred securely. So far... That's why they asked us to pay with credit cards, remember? When we did that too much, and the credit card people started to charge too much premium for it, they charged us in turn.
Then we were suckered into depending on debit cards. At the proper automated teller machines you could use them for free. Because, you know, you were saving the bank money since they didn't have to hire as many non-automated actual flesh and blood tellers.
I was at the gas station recently and they offered a 20-cent discount on gas if I used cash or a card from their gas company. So my debit (formerly known as "same-as-cash") card cost me 20 cents a gallon.
The final indignity: I heard from a friend his medical provider has announced they no longer accept cash. Only checks, debit, or credit cards. In effect they are saying you, the customer, has to pay extra, for your debit or credit card fees, or your check charges.
Sounds like an expensive lawsuit coming.
Because I read this on my five-dollar bill: "This note is legal tender for all debts public and private."
So when the Hippocratic Oath says “do no harm,” does it mean to your pocketbook too?
America, ya gotta love it.