National Park Service sued by woman over its refusal to accept CASH

By ramontomeydw // 2024-03-14

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A woman has filed a complaint against the National Park Service (NPS), which is part of the Department of the Interior (DOI), for its refusal to accept cash payments. Elizabeth Dasburg and her two co-plaintiffs alleged in the lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia that the NPS is violating American law by refusing to accept U.S. currency. They cited Title 31 of the U.S. Code – which stipulates that "all U.S. coins and currency (including Federal Reserve notes and circulating notes of Federal Reserve banks and national banks) are legal tender for all debts, public charges, taxes and dues" – as a basis for the complaint. The lawsuit stemmed from Dasburg attempting to enter the Fort Pulaski National Monument in Georgia. While she wanted to pay the entry fee in cash, she was informed that the NPS could only accept cards for entry. Thus, she and the two other plaintiffs were denied entry into the park unless they utilized cashless payment. Children's Health Defense (CHD), the organization established by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is funding the lawsuit. CHD General Counsel Kim Mack Rosenberg stated that the group is backing the plaintiffs and their attorney Ray Flores in their bid "to push back against the move toward a cashless society and central bank digital currency (CBDC)." "By forcing people to use credit cards or digital wallets under the guise of convenience, the NPS becomes a player in the surveillance state, undermining park visitors' privacy right," she said. Meanwhile, Flores found it "appalling" that "these pristine lands are the nation's testing ground for a cashless society." He added that the NPS has been implementing and expanding a cashless entry payment system over the past few years. "Cashless is a key component – if not the linchpin – of the surveillance state," Flores remarked. (Related: Financial preparedness: What are the dangers of a "cashless" economy?)

Going cashless only bolsters the SURVEILLANCE STATE

Dasburg and her co-plaintiffs are asking the court via the lawsuit to declare the practice unlawful, which would force the NPS to let visitors pay with cash. They are also seeking relief for the cost of the suit, including legal fees incurred. The suit named the NPS, its parent the DOI and NPS Director Charles F. Sams III as defendants. The NPS did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent by the Defender about Dasburg and her lawsuit. However, the service's FAQ page for cashless fee collection stated that the move to go cashless aimed to make the NPS "a better steward of … visitors' dollars." Among the reasons cited by the NPS for going cashless include reducing its administrative burden, slashing transaction times and allowing its rangers to spend more time with visitors. NPS Associate Director for Business Services defended the move to go cashless in 2023. He told USA Today at the time: "We are trying to watch where our visitor demand is, but we're also trying to make smart operational decisions that allow us to keep as many dollars in our parks." The plaintiffs found an ally in the person of former Federal Housing Commissioner Catherine Austin Fitts. She told the Defender: "This lawsuit goes at the very heart of the war to preserve our cash, and with it our human and health freedoms." "Removing cash from circulation is an essential step to implementing a complete surveillance state that can shut off our money at will – as we saw happen to the Canadian truckers – or take our assets and grab our land." Watch this video about President Joe Biden signing Executive Order 14067 that lays the groundwork for a cashless society. This video is from the Preacher channel on Brighteon.com.

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Going cashless only bolsters the SURVEILLANCE STATE

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