I understand why we need transaction fees.

The question is assuming its technically possible to make the receiver getting the fee exactly the same as the sender paying the fee, then the question becomes:



1) long term does it make more sense to punish the people spending the BTC.

or

2) long term does it make more sense to punish the merchants who receive the BTC.

I agree someone has to pay it.

In my humble opinion serious consideration should be taken to that question.  Most merchants are used to paying fees to accept money, thats how all credit card processing companies work right now.  

It can also be said that customers are used to paying fees to spend money.  But I tell you, my personal feeling on this subject which I'm sure many of you can also share with me...

paying fees at atms and credit cards = its a fucking rip off, I hate it.  I only do it because I have no other option and i forgot to get cash out of the bank.

I say, put the fees on the merchants.  It should be 100% equivalent to do this rather then charge the payers for any technical reasons such as spamming prevention and what not.  Please educate me if i'm wrong about this.

Yes my argument is about 90% psychological in nature...