Following our previous theme of George Orwell’s classic “1984″, we find it only appropriate to author a quick post on the fact that the nation’s largest employer has now stopped issuing paychecks. Instead, they are issuing “payroll cards” for those individuals who decline direct deposit. Walmart reports employing more than 1.4 million people and says it will reduce over 250,000 pounds of paper via the new payroll cards.

Most would say this is a pragmatic and sensible approach to cutting corporate SG&A expenses. In our tin hat wearing world, however, this is just one more step towards an eventual cashless society where the rights of individual privacy will have gone by the wayside.

At least the payroll cards do allow for a limited number of ATM cash withdrawal transactions without fees.

As stated on an ABC News Article (link provided below); “Michael W. Brandl, an economics professor at the University of Texas at Austin’s McCombs School of Business, questions if this will lead employees to save less.”

He said it would be “much easier just to spend it, as opposed to going to the bank, cashing the check and putting $20 into the ‘rainy day’ fund or jar.”

The thing we at TheSovereignState.com would like to know is; once you register your card, just who has access to your spending habits, debit transactions, cash withdrawal transactions, purchases, all down to the very last penny of your paycheck, should you choose to completely exhaust your new payroll card that is?

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wal-mart-employees-debit-cards-paychecks/story?id=8494124