A U.S. Senator recently proved he was all grown into the modern age by telling the country he can use a credit card to buy his own gas and groceries. Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE) admitted he was unfamiliar with ATMs when asked to opine on whether ATM fees should be capped at .50 cents. He did however, say he would be willing to learn: “I could learn how to do it just like I’ve…I swipe to get my own gas, buy groceries. I know about the holograms.” By holograms, the Senator is referring to scannable bar codes that appear on nearly every product Americans purchase.
After plenty of ridicule from the “tubes,” the Senator’s office clarified, saying “Senator Nelson avoids ATM fees by not using ATM cards. He avoids credit card interest by paying his bills in full and on time. He wishes the federal government would do the same.” His office went on to say that the Senator “understands” the cost of banking cards and credit cards and knows that many Americans feel the sting of exorbitant service fees. Pretty words, but I’m not sure how much a man pulling down $174,000 a year can empathize with someone who lives off credit thanks to unemployment or underemployment.
I know a liquor store that will cash this right now
Sure, there are plenty of Americans who still pay for things with cash pulled from mattresses, but these are people who I can now only assume have their servants pay for items with gold doubloons or large novelty checks. In addition to Bob Nelson, it’s become apparent that plenty of Senators don’t seem to use or understand swiping plastic in order to purchase items. Senator Mike Johanns, a member of the Banking Committee, (R-Neb) has reportedly used an ATM less that five times. So how exactly, are folks who have little understanding of exactly how a modern system works – be it an ATM, email, the internet or otherwise expected to comment on and make decisions for people who depend on these systems every day?
