# Random “Why don’t we have this in the US” thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 20, 2023, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/random-why-don-t-we-have-this-in-the-us-thread/987294 "2023-07-20T09:15:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2023, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/random-why-don-t-we-have-this-in-the-us-thread/987294/201 "2023-07-25T20:24:59Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > They used to be all over Texas, but were eliminated over the last 30-40 years due to the number of traffic fatalities they caused Are TX drivers just horrible compared to elsewhere? I’ve always heard that roundabouts lower accidents and in particular, lower fatal accidents. Didn’t search too much, but this was the top result on my query: [https://iowadot.gov/traffic/roundabouts/BENEFITS-OF-GOING-IN-CIRCLES/](https://iowadot.gov/traffic/roundabouts/BENEFITS-OF-GOING-IN-CIRCLES/) ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2023, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/random-why-don-t-we-have-this-in-the-us-thread/987294/202 "2023-07-25T21:09:05Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > Trust me, they are always accepted north of the border. I’m talking about 160lb loonies. Hard to stick on your body. ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2023, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/random-why-don-t-we-have-this-in-the-us-thread/987294/203 "2023-07-26T01:59:30Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > I regularly go to a restaurant like that. They will take CCs, but would rather not. The thing is that their prices are so low that I cannot figure out how they stay in business. I want to help them in any way I can (including generous tips since I assume they pay the waitress peanuts). well, cash leaves you with many more options for creative bookeeping and non-declared income (generic remark, not targeted at a specific restaurant) ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2023, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/random-why-don-t-we-have-this-in-the-us-thread/987294/204 "2023-07-26T02:20:32Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > > [@PatrickLondon](#): > > > > Where I am, a “looney” is a person of intermittent acquaintance with reality. My mind is still somewhat boggling at this question. > > “Loonie” is a nickname for the Canadian one-dollar coin; the nickname comes from the fact that the reverse (back side) of the coin features a loon (a native waterfowl). Right, part of the problem here was the spelling – the dollar coin is traditionally spelled “loonie”. The loon is a beautiful water bird typically associated with the lakes of northern Canada and also found in parts of the northern US. I always associate the call of the loon with camping in the northern wilderness. It has a memorable, haunting call … [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/4ENNzjy8QjU/maxresdefault.jpg "Voices: Common Loon") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ENNzjy8QjU) ---
**Author:** ![Die\_Capacitrix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/die_capacitrix/32/9_2.png) [@Die\_Capacitrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Die_Capacitrix)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2023, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/random-why-don-t-we-have-this-in-the-us-thread/987294/205 "2023-07-26T03:46:16Z")
> [@mordecaiB](#): > > Clipped off the rest, but this seems like a huge hassle. I’ve had packages from many countries and never heard mention of any problem. Do you live in the U.S.? If so, you’re lucky that the market is big enough that it’s worth it for the vendors to deal with U.S. customs. Switzerland is not a big enough market on its own and it’s not part of the EU. There are plenty of vendors who will not put up with Swiss customs, so there are many things I cannot buy. For the remainder? I have the pleasure of paying Swiss customs to assess the tax on my package AND pay the Swiss tax, ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2023, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/random-why-don-t-we-have-this-in-the-us-thread/987294/206 "2023-07-26T12:09:46Z")
The county was going to rename all the roads in our subdivision, that is until they found out what a huge pain in the ass it is. I’ve had to do that for a different county. Anyway, my one neighbor and I decided on either Loon Ln, or Chicken Crossing (Rd). ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2023, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/random-why-don-t-we-have-this-in-the-us-thread/987294/207 "2023-07-26T14:42:22Z")
> [@Al128](#): > > well, cash leaves you with many more options for creative bookeeping and non-declared income (generic remark, not targeted at a specific restaurant) That was my first thought too, but they always ring it up on the cash register (you go up there to pay) and it becomes harder to play these games there. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2023, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/random-why-don-t-we-have-this-in-the-us-thread/987294/208 "2023-07-26T14:56:13Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > hey always ring it up on the cash register (you go up there to pay) and it becomes harder to play these games there. I have a friend who has a cash register that his employees use for each and every sale. At the end of the day though he reruns the day’s sales on a second cash register that is back in his office.The tapes from the second register are the ones he would provide if he were audited. He has explained how the extra work saves him a certain amount of money, but I am not an accountant, so I don’t really grasp the whole thing. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2023, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/random-why-don-t-we-have-this-in-the-us-thread/987294/209 "2023-07-26T15:56:33Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I have a friend who has a cash register that his employees use for each and every sale. At the end of the day though he reruns the day’s sales on a second cash register that is back in his office.The tapes from the second register are the ones he would provide if he were audited. He has explained how the extra work saves him a certain amount of money, but I am not an accountant, so I don’t really grasp the whole thing Second set of books…hmmmm…the certain amount of money is definitely income taxes that he is saving. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2023, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/random-why-don-t-we-have-this-in-the-us-thread/987294/210 "2023-07-26T16:02:26Z")
Normally in these types of threads you see someone post about “high speed rail” and bemoaning the lack of such modes of transportation in the US. Won’t happen here primarily due to the legal system and broad property rights in the US. For high speed rail to work, you need lots of land in a nearly straight line from point to point. Almost all high speed rail projects in the US have failed due to the high costs (as property values get driven up as the project gets proposed) and eminent domain doesn’t have as far a reach here as it does in other countries. ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2023, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/random-why-don-t-we-have-this-in-the-us-thread/987294/211 "2023-07-26T19:02:33Z")
I’d settle for a passenger rail system that doesn’t rely on the freight railroads (which also won’t happen for the reasons stated). Every once in a while I look at the Amtrak alert system, and it seems that most of the delays are attributed to “freight interference” — which seems to be shorthand for a freight train that forced an Amtrak train off onto a siding — or a disabled freight train blocking the tracks. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2023, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/random-why-don-t-we-have-this-in-the-us-thread/987294/212 "2023-07-26T19:14:47Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > Second set of books…hmmmm…the certain amount of money is definitely income taxes that he is saving. Heh. A friend’s family ran a carnival when he was a teenager. Like many carnivals, it was a primarily cash business. In addition to operating the ferris wheel, he was the bookkeeper (note that he was about 14 or 15 at the time). He admits now, about 40 years later, that there were indeed two sets of books—one that accurately indicated the cash flow, and the other that didn’t. The other would be the one that would be produced should some authority ask for an audit. ---
**Author:** ![Sooner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sooner/32/7875_2.png) [@Sooner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sooner)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2023, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/random-why-don-t-we-have-this-in-the-us-thread/987294/213 "2023-07-26T19:20:06Z")
I have never encountered this in the US, but did recently at an English rail station for a 200 pound purchase. ---
**Author:** ![mordecaiB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mordecaib/32/7725_2.png) [@mordecaiB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mordecaiB)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2023, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/random-why-don-t-we-have-this-in-the-us-thread/987294/214 "2023-07-26T19:20:25Z")
> [@Die\_Capacitrix](#): > > Do you live in the U.S.? If so, you’re lucky that the market is big enough that it’s worth it for the vendors to deal with U.S. customs. Yes, I do. I sometimes forget that not all mainland European countries aren’t part of the EU. 🙁 I know I’ve ordered from China or Taiwan in the past and IIRC they don’t even charge shipping. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2023, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/random-why-don-t-we-have-this-in-the-us-thread/987294/215 "2023-07-26T19:23:03Z")
> [@Sooner](#): > > a 200 pound purchase As an American, my brain briefly interpreted that as the _weight_ of the item you purchased, rather than the price. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2023, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/random-why-don-t-we-have-this-in-the-us-thread/987294/216 "2023-07-26T19:54:19Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > The ownership at these cash-only retailers have decided, for reasons sound or not, that the net effect of this is to their benefit. What they gain in fees (or scrutiny) avoided more than pays for the customers lost. Or so the proprietor thinks. It’s not any deeper than that. Sometimes it has to do with “the system” and luddite thinking. Those places also often ignore drinking age, refuse to wear masks, and allow smoking. The fees for CC run about 2%. It has been shown that the extra fees and work with cash is about 1%. Mind you places that make a LOT of small sales can get hit with higher charges, soi I pay cash for stuff under $10. > [@Zyada](#): > > On the license, it clearly states that you can include sales tax in your price as long as you inform your customers. Nobody does that Vending machines, etc. > [@kayaker](#): > > I stopped taking checks. The county District Attorney stopped by asking that I reconsider. They had a program to try to convince people to make their bounced checks good. But checks are so last century. It’s like people wanting to pay in beaver skins or wampum. > [@WildaBeast](#): > > In my experience that’s what nearly every business in Greece is like. Tax evasion is a national game in Greece. > [@wguy123](#): > > I’ve always heard that roundabouts lower accidents and in particular, lower fatal accidents. They do- if you know how to use them. We have one right here in town, it works fine. > [@kayaker](#): > > At the end of the day though he reruns the day’s sales on a second cash register that is back in his office. Second set of books, and really easy for the Tax guys to audit. Not to mention, thats solid evidence of Intent to commit tax fraud. > [@Omar\_Little](#): > > Won’t happen here primarily due to the legal system and broad property rights in the US. For high speed rail to work, you need lots of land in a nearly straight line from point to point. Almost all high speed rail projects in the US have failed due to the high costs (as property values get driven up as the project gets proposed) and eminent domain doesn’t have as far a reach here as it does in other countries. Yeah, CA wanted it, passed a measure to get it. But then the NIMBYs came out and the lawsuits piled up. ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2023, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/random-why-don-t-we-have-this-in-the-us-thread/987294/217 "2023-07-26T20:19:57Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > Japan had vending machines with drinks everywhere. I loved this. It was 95 degrees every day when I went except for one day when it was 97. I drank so much Pocari Sweat and Lemon Squash for like, 140 or 160 yen. I want this here! But we have to overcharge so much for water here. Prices have gone up – it was only 100 yen when I was there. Which reminds me of another thing I liked about them. Say a US machine accepts $5 notes. I put in a five and select which $1 item I want, and the machine immediately dispenses my change, usually before I can get the item out of the machine. If I want to buy a second item I have to get my change and put it back into the machine. With Japanese machines, I could drop in a 500-yen coin, and the machine would give me my drink, then ask if I wanted my change or wanted to make a second purchase. I could hit yes and punch the button for a second drink, and the machine would again ask if I wanted my change. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2023, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/random-why-don-t-we-have-this-in-the-us-thread/987294/218 "2023-07-26T20:27:18Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Tax evasion is a national game in Greece. Yeah, if you ask they say it’s because they don’t want to pay the processing fee, but I always assumed tax evasion was the real reason. Menus in Greece are all required to include a disclaimer that says if you’re not given a receipt your meal is free. I was told it was meant to prevent that sort of tax evasion, because producing a receipt means they had to run the transaction through the cash register. But I bet they have ways of getting around that. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2023, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/random-why-don-t-we-have-this-in-the-us-thread/987294/219 "2023-07-26T20:43:29Z")
That and the very idea of high-speed rail in California being unbelievably stupid to begin with, if for no other reason than geography. ---
**Author:** ![fedman1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e495f1/32.png) [@fedman1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman1)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2023, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/random-why-don-t-we-have-this-in-the-us-thread/987294/220 "2023-07-26T21:37:21Z")
to me, the cash-only bars are asking to be robbed, compared to CC only bars [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/random-why-don-t-we-have-this-in-the-us-thread/987294.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/random-why-don-t-we-have-this-in-the-us-thread/987294.md?page=12)