Fall has arrived, and you know what that means: football season is back. The air smells like barbecue smoke, parking lots are buzzing with tailgaters, and stadiums are rocking. Everybody’s ready for kickoff.
But picture this: you left home early, jersey on, cooler packed, full of game-day spirit… only to get stuck in the world’s slowest line outside the stadium. You can hear the roar of the crowd inside, but you’re not moving. Play after play goes by, and you’re still waiting.
That’s exactly how America’s payment system feels. Families and small businesses are lined up at the gate, money in hand, but the system won’t let them in.
The Cost of Sitting on the Bench
In football, missing the opening kickoff means missing the momentum. In money, waiting around can cost you big.
Workers who expect their paycheck Friday might not see their paycheck until Monday – or later if there’s a holiday flag on the play. That delay means bills pile up, groceries wait, and late fees hit harder than a linebacker.
Small businesses get sacked too. A local shop can’t stock enough team merch before the rush, or a neighborhood grocer misses its hamburger bun restock window before game day. Instead of running their playbook, they’re sidelined by a slow, outdated system that favors big banks and lets competitors score instead.
Why Competition Wins Championships
Football fans know this truth: competition makes everyone better. Teams raise their game when they’re up against strong rivals. Players hustle harder. Coaches draw up sharper plays.
But in America’s payments league? Hardly any teams are even allowed on the field. A handful of big players dominate the game clock, with little incentive to speed things up or innovate. Families and businesses are left holding the ball while time ticks away.
Meanwhile, countries like the U.K. and India are already running a fast-paced, no-huddle offense: payments move in seconds, 24/7. We have the talent and the tech here at home – we just need fair competition and smart policy to get off the sidelines.
Moving the Chains: Policies That Open the Field
Here’s how we can turn this game around:
- Open access to the payments system so more institutions – not just the biggest banks – can run plays and deliver faster service.
- Create a modern payments charter so innovative companies can enter the field without tripping over outdated rules.
- Invest in real-time payments infrastructure so 24/7 service is the standard, not a trick play.
Put Us in the Game, Coach
Fans don’t buy tickets to stand in the parking lot. They’re here for touchdowns, big plays, and victory dances. The same goes for our money – it should move at the speed of life, not at the pace of a stadium turnstile.
Competition is what makes sports thrilling. It’s also what can make our financial system faster, fairer, and more exciting. Let’s open the field, let more players in, and finally give families and businesses a chance to win.
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