The paper money that’s in your wallet right now makes a promise to the holder. “This note is legal tender for all debts, public and private.” There are no conditions, no asterisks, no exceptions.

Still many businesses, including SU’s Dome, the Lakeview Amphitheater, the Syracuse Mets’ ballpark and our beloved New York State Fair refuse to accept good old American cash. But there may be hope for those who think the practice of requiring credit cards or electronic payment is nonsensical, discriminatory and potentially subject to fraud and theft.

Channel 9 News recently reported that a bill in the New York State Senate proposes a law that would require merchants to accept cash as payment for goods and services, though allowing some exceptions. Let’s all contact our State Senator and urge support for this measure. Interestingly, New York City already has a law prohibiting cashless businesses.

Meanwhile, USA Today has reported that the National Park Service being sued over refusal to accept cash.

You can bet that, as you read this, some creep, somewhere is looking at this practice, trying to figure a way to hack into the payments systems or to steal your credit card information. And sooner or later, someone will succeed.

It’s an unnecessary and reckless risk. There was a time that all of these businesses accepted cash and it worked just fine. If they have issues with staffing, accounting and security, they should deal with it as they did back then. It’s called doing business. They all make plenty of profit from the customers they are abusing with their cashless BS.

At least we can use EZ Pass at the Fair and almost all vendors happily accept our money. We’ve heard of some that don’t, so we’ll just keep walking to one that does.

Likewise, smart customers are justified in thinking twice about patronizing businesses and venues that require credit cards.