dnewton3
Staff member
There are two ends to this equation; the payment, and the storage, of funds. Rather than focusing on the storage, perhaps we can address the payment at the front end ...
Banking services are a product. Typically we'd think that humans don't have "right" to any one specific product. But the integration of banking in all aspects of our lives makes one consider that banking is no longer optional in one's life.
If banking is a "human right", then would that not imply that the individual can demand to have it enforced? If that is so, that would therefore also imply that the bank cannot say "no" without just cause. But to establish the account, certain minimum standards typically must be met (forms of ID, address, etc). If one already had those, it would be a cinch to get the banking account, and in fact a bank would be pleased to establish the account; they want more customers! The fact is that typically folks who don't have bank accounts are not denied because the banks don't want them as customers; they are denied because they don't meet minimum standards.
Rather, most often, folks who don't have bank accounts are denied because of oversight entities setting minimum standards of "identification". Those entities want total control over all things, and they're not about to grant a "right" which they cannot deny or control. If it were a "right", then that individual who is disenfranchised could sue to get his right restored. Because it is viewed as a privilege, those entities can deny the privilege with little consequence.
Instead of focusing on the back end, let's look at the beginning. Maybe the "right" should be that a person has the ability to determine how he/she is paid? Rather than making the employee capitulate to the system of the employer's choice, perhaps the employee should have a "right" to say how he is paid? Cash, or certified/cashier's check which is non-deniable? This takes the banks out of the equation; they cannot deny what is not in play.
I AM NOT ADVOCATING FOR ANY SPECIFIC METHOD; just "thinking out loud" here.
I'm not trying to solve the problem. Rather, I'm trying to help refine the definitions and delineate the choices.
Banking services are a product. Typically we'd think that humans don't have "right" to any one specific product. But the integration of banking in all aspects of our lives makes one consider that banking is no longer optional in one's life.
If banking is a "human right", then would that not imply that the individual can demand to have it enforced? If that is so, that would therefore also imply that the bank cannot say "no" without just cause. But to establish the account, certain minimum standards typically must be met (forms of ID, address, etc). If one already had those, it would be a cinch to get the banking account, and in fact a bank would be pleased to establish the account; they want more customers! The fact is that typically folks who don't have bank accounts are not denied because the banks don't want them as customers; they are denied because they don't meet minimum standards.
Rather, most often, folks who don't have bank accounts are denied because of oversight entities setting minimum standards of "identification". Those entities want total control over all things, and they're not about to grant a "right" which they cannot deny or control. If it were a "right", then that individual who is disenfranchised could sue to get his right restored. Because it is viewed as a privilege, those entities can deny the privilege with little consequence.
Instead of focusing on the back end, let's look at the beginning. Maybe the "right" should be that a person has the ability to determine how he/she is paid? Rather than making the employee capitulate to the system of the employer's choice, perhaps the employee should have a "right" to say how he is paid? Cash, or certified/cashier's check which is non-deniable? This takes the banks out of the equation; they cannot deny what is not in play.
I AM NOT ADVOCATING FOR ANY SPECIFIC METHOD; just "thinking out loud" here.
I'm not trying to solve the problem. Rather, I'm trying to help refine the definitions and delineate the choices.
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