Speakeasies arised as a result of the prohibition of alcohol. Many gangs competed for routes to supply the alcohol, trade, and business. There was much violence and it flourished as a result of government prohibition.
Which leads me to my next point and that is about “smokeeasies”. Since smoking is prohibited in pretty much all businesses that serve food, entertainment et al, why don’t we necessarily see a flourishment of businesses that allow their customers to smoke while enjoying their meal, directly defying the government? As well as “underground bookkeeping” of tobacco taxes and other such things? If a restaurant allowed smoking and the customers didn’t like smokers, the owner would either have to change policy or go broke and vice versa.
The other thing is what would happen if there were enough businesses that did not accept US dollars and accepted gold and silver instead. What would happen to the economy? Would the government shut down all business. This would make the economy collapse. But would it lead to a “going out of business sign” on the federal reserve? Would there be monetary policy change?
I need answers.