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cmason

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Is this acceptable?  Can we discuss politics here, especially when bitcoin, or bitcoin-related technologies are involved?  I would like to see a dedicated category for such topics.  I think this is appropriate for two reasons:
1.  Bitcoin itself can be politically disruptive, and can have an impact on current and future political conflicts.
2.  Many people interested in Bitcoin come from a political persuasion that could bear additional discussion.  You have Anarchists, Libertarians, Liberals, Socialists and even Communists that may have views on Bitcoin and how it might impact society.
I think it would be useful to provide a space for such discussions, especially if we believe cryptocurrencies and 2.0 technologies might provide radical new ways of interacting with each other at the individual, community, regional and even national level.  After all, if we really think bitcoin can change the world, we'd better be prepared to talk about how this could happen, and what forms it might take.
Thanks very much.

Posted on March 11, 2014 at 3:35 AM

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• crystalck04

  

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  For me, crypto-currencies are very much politically motivated. This topic actually makes me want to learn cryptography on a deeper level so I can be more involved in change around the world.
  

  Posted on March 11, 2014 at 4:05 AM
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• cmason

  

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  Precisely!
  Although I do remember reading the classic tome "Applied Cryptography" by Bruce Schneier, and while I understood most of it, I lost it when it got to the math.  Crypto is hard unless you're a professional mathematician, or at least, young and well-motivated. Then you can learn just about anything if you put your mind to it.
  

  Posted on March 11, 2014 at 4:15 AM
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• crystalck04

  

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  cmason said:
  Although I do remember reading the classic tome "Applied Cryptography" by Bruce Schneier, and while I understood most of it, I lost it when it got to the math.  Crypto is hard unless you're a professional mathematician, or at least, young and well-motivated. Then you can learn just about anything if you put your mind to it.
  

  Ohh, I'll have to add that to my to-read list! I was really good in math in school..I just forget most of it since I don't use it. Maybe forget is the wrong word. I just need a refresher and then I'm all good. That's what happened in college, anyway.
  

  Posted on March 11, 2014 at 2:35 PM
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• gthrones

  

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  I became interested for freedom reasons!
  

  Posted on March 19, 2014 at 10:04 PM
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• Barry

  

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  politics is entirely relevant and should absolutely discussed. At some point in the future, perhaps a large portion of what we call "politics" will be replaced by a blockchain

  Posted on June 29, 2014 at 10:45 PM
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• davidareallen

  

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  Government = trusted third party

  Posted on July 2, 2014 at 12:08 AM
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• theDon

  

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  Let's imagine Bitcoin starts to replace fiat. Some governments may be in favor of virtual currencies and some may not. Let's assume the US government isn't in favor but sees its power threatened and wants to bann bitcoin. What stepts could they undertake? Would these stop bitcoin in the US or would bitcoin just be unstoppable?

  Posted on July 2, 2014 at 12:29 AM
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• adam

  

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  @thedon Let's imagine Bitcoin starts to replace fiat. Some governments may be in favor of virtual currencies and some may not. Let's assume the US government isn't in favor but sees its power threatened and wants to ban bitcoin. What steps could they undertake? Would these stop bitcoin in the US or would bitcoin just be unstoppable?

  They can make it illegal, which would make any business that accepts de-facto an illegal business. This would lead to the vast vast majority of businesses stopping accepting it.

  It would not kill bitcoin, but it would sure slow things down and make way for a co-opted "just-as-good-as" tech.

  Posted on July 2, 2014 at 6:35 AM
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• theDon

  

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  @adam They can make it illegal, which would make any business that accepts de-facto an illegal business. This would lead to the vast vast majority of businesses stopping accepting it.

  It would not kill bitcoin, but it would sure slow things down and make way for a co-opted "just-as-good-as" tech.

  Wow, then there's more power in the government than I thought. Thank you for this explanation, Adam. Therefore we as bitcoiners walk on a tightrope walk. On one side the fall is towards bitcoin embracing full compliance and controll from the state and on the other side the fall leads to outright prohibition of bitcoin. We can't control the decisions of governments, but let's not give them any reason to neither regulate nor ban bitcoin. If some states officially legalize bitcoin, others will be left with fewer options to explain why they want to ban it. Obviously still some birth pains are yet to come. Wait until some fiat currencies fail. But I believe latest developments overall are positive towards a worldwide adoption.

  Posted on July 2, 2014 at 8:15 AM
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