Shared posts

24 Mar 23:13

Bridgewater’s Ray Dalio Warns Government Could Restrict Bitcoin Investments, Impose ‘Shocking’ Taxes

by Kevin Helms
Bridgewater's Ray Dalio Warns Government Could Restrict Bitcoin Investments, Impose 'Shocking' Taxes

The founder and chief investment officer of Bridgewater Associates, the world’s largest hedge fund firm, has warned that the government could “impose prohibitions against capital movements” into assets such as bitcoin. He added that regulators may also impose changes in taxes that “could be more shocking than expected.”

Ray Dalio Warns About Government Prohibitions and Taxes

Ray Dalio, founder and chief investment officer of Bridgewater Associates, wrote a post on Linkedin last week entitled: “Why in the World Would You Own Bonds When…”

He pointed out that the bond markets currently offer “ridiculously low yields,” which “do not meet these asset holders’ funding needs.” The executive wrote, “There is now over $75 trillion of US debt assets of varying maturities,” adding that their holders will at some point want to sell them to get cash to buy goods and services with.

However, Bridgewater’s chief investment officer estimates that “at current valuations, there is way too much money in these financial assets for it to be a realistic expectation that any significant percentage of that bond money can be turned into cash and exchanged for goods and services.” He elaborated: “It has to be accommodated … via printing a lot of money and devaluing it, and restructuring a lot of debt and government finances, usually including large increases in taxes.”

Dalio explained: “Based both on how things have worked historically and what is happening now, I am confident that tax changes will also play an important role in driving capital flows to different investment assets and different locations, and those movements will influence market movements.”

The billionaire fund manager emphasized that “If history and logic are to be a guide, policymakers who are short of money will raise taxes and won’t like these capital movements out of debt assets and into other storehold of wealth assets and other tax domains,” warning:

They could very well impose prohibitions against capital movements to other assets (e.g., gold, bitcoin, etc.) and other locations. These tax changes could be more shocking than expected.

The Bridgewater Associates founder used Elizabeth Warren’s proposed wealth tax as an example, stating that it “is of an unprecedented size.” Citing his study of “wealth taxes in other countries at other times,” he expects this proposal “will most likely lead to more capital outflows and other moves to evade these taxes.”

Consequently, “The United States could become perceived as a place that is inhospitable to capitalism and capitalists,” Dalio opined, emphasizing that “the chances of a sizable wealth tax bill passing over the next few years are significant.” In conclusion, the Bridgewater executive cautioned:

One should be mindful of tax changes and the possibility of capital controls.

Dalio has been studying bitcoin over the recent months. In November last year, he admitted that he may be wrong about bitcoin but was nonetheless worried about governments outlawing cryptocurrency. In December, he said bitcoin could “serve as a diversifier to gold and other such storehold of wealth assets.” Then, in January this year, he said that “bitcoin is one hell of an invention,” revealing that his firm looking closely at the cryptocurrency.

What do you think about Ray Dalio’s warning? Let us know in the comments section below.

24 Mar 20:24

New FATF Guidance Applies Regulatory Standards to Decentralized Exchanges, Defi and NFTs

by Jamie Redman
New FATF Guidance Applies Regulatory Standards to Decentralized Exchanges, Defi and NFTs

On March 19, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) published draft guidance on the risk-based approach to virtual assets. The newly updated guidance now applies anti-money laundering and know-your-customer rules to stablecoins, decentralized finance (defi), and non-fungible token (NFT) assets.

FATF Defines Decentralized Exchanges and Defi as a Virtual Asset Service Providers

For a while now, cryptocurrency proponents have said that one day, global regulators would likely target decentralized finance (defi) and the latest non-fungible token (NFT) hype. For a while now, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has been trying to come up with a regulatory standard for cryptocurrencies businesses called a “virtual asset service provider” (VASP). Things like the FATF’s Travel Rule have always been controversial, but regulators from a number of countries have been adopting the organization’s guidance. Recently Gibraltar updated its guidance notes to align with the FATF rules and South Africa has been attempting the same.

The FATF’s latest guidance is merely an update of some of its past recommendations toward virtual assets (VA) and VASPs. However, the updated version now discusses stablecoins, defi, and NFTs, as things like decentralized exchanges (dex) are considered VASPs. The newly revised guidance suggests imposing anti-money laundering and know-your-customer (AML/KYC) rules toward dex applications. The FATF calls these platforms “Decentralized or distributed applications (dapp) or a platform that offers “exchange or transfer services.”

“A dapp, for example, is a term that refers to a software program that operates on a P2P network of computers running a blockchain protocol— a type of distributed public ledger that allows the development of other applications,” the latest guidelines note. “These applications or platforms are often run on a distributed ledger but still usually have a central party with some measure of involvement, such as creating and launching an asset, setting parameters, holding an administrative ‘key’ or collecting fees.”

The global regulator’s guidance adds:

Dapps can facilitate or conduct the exchange or transfer of [virtual assets].

‘The FATF Is No Stranger to Defi, Dex, and NFTs’

FATF’s latest guidance essentially defines a non-fungible token (NFT) as a VA as it defines a stablecoin. The latest guidance on NFT, defi, and stablecoins indicate that the FATF has noticed these emerging trends within the crypto space. Additionally, the FATF tweeted about the guidance and asked for commentary about the 99-page report. “The FATF wants to hear your views on draft guidance for taking a risk-based approach to virtual assets and virtual asset service providers,” the organization tweeted. “Relevant private sector stakeholders can take part in the public consultation.”

The report also touched upon VA transfers to and from unhosted wallets. “The FATF recognizes that unlike traditional fiat wire transfers, not every VA transfer may involve (or be book-ended by) two obliged entities,” the FATF guidance says. In instances in which a VA transfer involves only one obliged entity on either end of the transfer (e.g., when an ordering VASP or other obliged entity sends VAs on behalf of its customer, the originator, to a beneficiary that is not a customer of a beneficiary institution but rather an individual VA user who receives the VA transfer.”

Of course, the conversation about the FATF’s new definitions for defi, NFTs, stablecoins, dapps, and dex applications was a topical discussion on social media. “FATF ain’t no stranger to defi, dex & NFT,” Björn Godenrath tweeted. “Classification as a virtual asset service provider brings market participants into the scope of traditional money laundering regulations (if they can be identified),” he added.

What do you think about the FATF guidelines and definitions tied to defi and NFTs? Let us know what you think about this subject in the comments section below.

15 Mar 23:34

「愛國者治港」為民主上鎖:47位泛民派被控顛覆政權,中國人大改變香港選制

無論中共或特區政府不斷強調香港仍有「經濟自由、法治及司法獨立」,當47位泛民派被控顛覆政權、人大修改香港選制,國際社會開始正式將香港視為中國普通的城市,完全落於北京掌控。
09 Mar 08:22

何桂藍:我不接受任何限制言論自由的保釋條件

香港律政司2月28日以港版《國安法》「串謀顛覆國家政權罪」起訴47位泛民派,曾被稱「立場姐姐」的何桂藍是其中之一。香港法律規定港媒不能刊登保釋申請陳辭,然而《報導者》認為,其留存在香港史上有其重要與必要,我們選擇將何桂藍的陳辭全文刊登出來。
05 Mar 04:28

Food waste: Amount thrown away totals 900 million tonnes

Every year, 23 million truckloads of food go straight into the waste bin, according to the UN.
20 Feb 22:34

China steps up online controls with new rule for bloggers

Ma Xiaolin frequently wrote about current affairs on one of China's leading microblogging sites, where he has 2 million followers. But recently, he said in a post, the Weibo site called and asked him not to post original content on topics ranging from politics to economic and military issues.
20 Feb 22:33

Cambodia sets up China-style internet firewall

Cambodia's government moved to exert near-total control over the country's online life Wednesday, setting up a national internet gateway which activists say will stifle freedom of expression and block content via a China-style firewall.
05 Feb 10:07

電動車 Q&A 問答大蒐羅Part I

by 張雅茹
關於電動車,讀者好奇的問題都在這裡! 2020年全球電動車銷售量不畏疫情逆勢成長逾40%,甫上台的美國拜登政府更就宣佈65萬輛公務車未來將全數汱換成電動車,讓電動車的話題在2021年一開年就吸引大眾注意。但是一般民眾對於電動車仍存有許多疑問,台達基金會《低碳生活部落格》蒐集了截至2020年底常見的電動車提問,希望能解答多數人的疑問。 Q:電動車真的比較環保、低碳嗎? 電動車在行駛過程中不會排放二氧化碳、懸浮微粒和其他造成空氣污染的物質,從這個角度來看,的確比燃油車還環保。
07 Jan 04:54

No More KYC with ShapeShift

by /u/dskloet
06 Jan 04:40

UK Judge Rejects US Extradition Requests for Julian Assange, Wikileaks Holds $800K in Crypto

by Jamie Redman
UK Judge Rejects US Extradition Requests for Julian Assange, Wikileaks Holds $800K in Crypto

On Monday, a British judge rejected the U.S. request to extradite the Australian editor, publisher, and activist Julian Assange. Following the U.K. judge’s decision, the current president of Mexico, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, has offered Assange political asylum in the country. Meanwhile, Wikileaks has gathered hundreds of thousands of dollars in crypto-asset donations since the founders’ arrest in April 2019.

US Extradition Requests for Julian Assange Denied

The world recently watched a United Kingdom judge reject the United States’ request to extradite the Wikileaks founder Julian Assange. The activist told the court that the state of the harsh U.S. prisons would likely lead to killing himself.

“I find that the mental condition of Mr. Assange is such that it would be oppressive to extradite him to the United States of America,” the judge said after rejecting the U.S. request. Assange was arrested on April 11, 2019, and he faces espionage charges over the publication of classified U.S. documents.

Following the judge’s rejection, the notorious whistleblower Edward Snowden tweeted about the decision to not let the U.S. take Assange. “Let this be the end of it,” Snowden tweeted after hearing the news.

UK Judge Rejects US Extradition Requests for Julian Assange, Wikileaks Holds $800K in Crypto

Additionally, the sitting president of Mexico, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, has offered Assange political asylum. Obrador told a daily press briefing that the British judge’s decision to reject the U.S. government was a milestone of justice and added that Assange is “a journalist and deserves another chance.”

“I’m in favor that Assange is pardoned, furthermore, I will ask the foreign minister to initiate proper procedures to ask the United Kingdom’s government about the possibility that Julian Assange is set free, and that Mexico offers to provide political asylum,” Obrador stressed.

$800K in Crypto Donations

Moreover, the cryptocurrency community has been sending Assange and Wikileaks quite a bit of crypto-funding since his arrest in 2019. At the time of publication, the Wikileaks BTC donation address holds 19.66 BTC or over $600k using today’s exchange rates.

Bitcoin cash (BCH) proponents have donated 222.99 BCH or over $87k at current BCH prices. The Wikileaks litecoin (LTC) address has 140 LTC or over $21,000 in litecoin donations. 76.87 unshielded zcash (ZEC) has been sent to the Wikileaks address worth $4,350 today.

UK Judge Rejects US Extradition Requests for Julian Assange, Wikileaks Holds $800K in Crypto

Wikileaks also accepts private transfers of zcash (ZEC) and monero (XMR) as well. As far as ethereum (ETH) donations are concerned, the organization has collected over 89 ether or over $87,000 using today’s ETH exchange rates.

Since his arrest in 2019, Assange has spent his time at the high-security Belmarsh Prison. If Assange was to be extradited to the U.S. he faces 18 cyberattack crimes for hacking government computer systems. Assange is also charged with espionage and the aggregate of U.S. charges could see Assange get a 175-year sentence in prison.

UK Judge Rejects US Extradition Requests for Julian Assange, Wikileaks Holds $800K in Crypto

Out of all the cryptocurrency donations Wikileaks has received, most of the coins have been held for a long period of time. Out of a total of 24.21 BTC donations sent to the nonprofit, Wikileaks has only spent 4.55 BTC to date ($140k) and many other coins have been held long-term as well.

Without knowing how much shielded zcash (ZEC) and monero (XMR) Wikileaks has been sent, the addresses that do show donations we can see, indicate that the organization holds over $800,000 worth of crypto donations today.

What do you think about the British judge rejecting the U.S. extradition of the Wikileaks founder Julian Assange? Let us know what you think about this subject in the comments section below.

The post UK Judge Rejects US Extradition Requests for Julian Assange, Wikileaks Holds $800K in Crypto appeared first on Bitcoin News.

13 Nov 06:58

China to clamp down on internet giants

Joshua Chen

When will people realize the monopoly of money is also antitrust

The regulations suggest increasing unease in Beijing with the growing influence of digital platforms.
07 Nov 04:18

Popular app T&Cs 'longer than Harry Potter'

The combined terms of 13 top apps including TikTok, WhatsApp and Zoom would take 17 hours to read.
09 Oct 07:55

How African Elephants Fight Climate Change – IMF F&D

African forest elephants fight climate change by contributing in surprising ways to natural carbon capture, write Ralph Chami, Connel Fullenkamp, Thomas Cosimano, and Fabio Berzaghi.
28 Sep 21:07

他曾改寫國際整外教科書,如今擔心台灣未來沒醫師開刀──魏福全看見的健保價值和困境

75歲的整外耆宿,眼見台灣的顯微重建外科領先地位正下滑。他說「健保讓台灣人有尊嚴」,但長年對專業技術給付不重視,未來堪慮。投入「艱困科」的醫師也有同樣觀察⋯
07 Sep 18:38

Study identifies limits on the efficiency of techniques for reducing noise in quantum resources

Quantum technologies, such as quantum computers, quantum sensing devices and quantum memory, have often been found to outperform traditional electronics in speed and performance, and could thus soon help humans to tackle a variety of problems more efficiently. Despite their huge potential, most quantum systems are inherently susceptible to errors and noise, which poses a serious challenge to implementing and using them in real-world settings.
03 Sep 21:23

笑氣:「超級溫室氣體」減排的中國迷局

by 黃丞毅
11家中國化工廠所產生的一氧化二氮的溫室氣體效應,或相當於數千萬輛小汽車的碳排放。曾經的減排努力在國際碳市場無法為減排提供資金後,變得難以為繼。一項國際調查試圖弄清究竟發生了什麼。 2007年12月,美國化學工程師查爾斯・佩里洛克斯(Charles Perilloux)來到中國,幫助一家化工廠安裝減排設備。這種設備採用的技術成本低,效果顯著,安裝後不久就讓這家化工廠排放的一種「超級溫室氣體」迅速降至幾乎為零。 河南神馬尼龍化工有限責任公司(以下簡稱「神馬公司」)
01 Sep 17:12

主婦聯盟/開放美豬美牛進口:用全民健康支付美國保護費,配套呢?

by 許芷榕
今天(8月28日),總統蔡英文召開記者會,宣布全面開放:30月齡以上美國牛肉及含萊克多巴胺美豬進口。其中最具爭議的是:過去從未開放的含瘦肉精的美國豬肉進口,此舉將對國人的健康與台灣畜牧業產生重大的衝擊。 國人健康不容冒險 為防堵狂牛症入侵台灣,2007年僅同意開放30月齡小牛、排除風險物質的牛肉及產品輸台,若是現在開放30月齡以上牛肉進口,必將國人推向狂牛症的風險之下。目前,台灣養豬並未開放使用萊克多巴胺藥劑,依據2018年農委會統計數據:國產豬肉自給率亦將近9成,
17 Aug 04:21

Hidden surprises in the Bitcoin blockchain and how they are stored: Nelson Mandela, Wikileaks, photos, Python software and More

by /u/parakite
17 Aug 04:12

Ex-Prudential CEO George Ball Has Changed his Stance on #Bitcoin After Several Years as an "Opponent."

by /u/wmredditor
14 Aug 23:14

香港舉報潮下的通識老師:從自我審查,到成為「國安教育」的一顆螺絲

香港《國安法》黑手不只抓捕異議人士,更以國安教育為名,開始介入教育現場:暗中鼓勵舉報「黃師」、意圖審查通識科參考教材等。4千多名香港通識教育老師何去何從?
09 Aug 00:45

水母湖差點沒水母 帛琉黃金水母與鉅額觀光收益的拉鋸戰

by 黃丞毅
編按:同為海島國家、距離台灣2000多公里的帛琉,是離台灣最近的友邦。其水下美景每年吸引數十萬遊客,支撐全國近一半的GDP。近年卻因觀光人潮與海水升溫酸化,大力衝擊當地生物多樣性。 帛琉政府推出各項環保法令,為海洋永續提出解決之道,打造名符其實的「永續之島」。2019年環境資訊中心與TVBS跨媒體合作 《前進帛琉 島嶼永續的挑戰》 ,從社會、生態、經濟等面向進行系列報導,探索與海洋共存共榮的更多可能。 從柯羅州出海約半小時,船來到一座岩石島。一踏上有點搖晃的水上碼頭,
29 Jul 04:29

357天等待職災補償的折磨:一名泰國移工之死

來台工作12年的的泰籍移工拜倫,因職災嚴重失能、難以下床,雇主至今只願意支付部分薪資,其餘賠償只能打官司。最終,拜倫因不願拖垮家庭而自我結束生命。他的兒子捧著遺照說:「我們希望在台灣爭取公平」⋯⋯
26 Jul 05:24

Chess Grandmaster Kasparov: Bitcoin Empowers the Public and Protects Dissidents

by Jeffrey Gogo
Greatest Chess Grandmaster: Bitcoin Empowers Public and Protects Dissidents

Russian human rights campaigner and chess supremo Gary Kasparov has said that the current economic crisis, which has led to unconventional monetary policy, will drive people towards bitcoin.

Bitcoin’s finite supply compares favorably to agenda-driven printing of money by governments, noted the Avast security ambassador, who also chairs the Human Rights Foundation and the Renew Democracy Initiative.

Speaking to Forbes on the intersection of human rights and new technologies, Kasparov said cryptocurrencies enable the public to regain control of personal finances at a time when unilateral moves by government and institutions are on the rise.

“The good thing about bitcoin is that you know exactly the number – the magic number of 21 million. And we understand the formula behind that. But when you look at the other side, the Fed for instance, you never know how many trillions of dollars will appear on the market tomorrow that will damage your savings,” he observed.

Kasparov said cryptocurrencies’ potential for abuse gets overstated but it is the upside which must be harnessed to empower individuals. Crypto offers means to protect personal finances against inflation and state interference and “anything that can offer us the opportunity to take back control or some control of our privacy is always welcome,” the chess grandmaster said.

“That’s why I think the steady rise in popularity of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology as a concept is inevitable, because it’s a response to the shift of power from individuals to states or other institutions that may act on our privacy without our consent,” he added.

As chairperson of the Human Rights Foundation, Kasparov has promoted blockchain and cryptocurrency as a means to empower dissidents around the world.

“For us, it was important for us to address every violation of human rights, and we were trying to help these people, most of them under severe attacks by their governments – even if they left their countries, their financial accounts were hacked, their information was stolen – so we have been providing special training courses.”

He continued: “We’ve invited famous hackers to help them and to work with them – we have been using every opportunity to offer them extra protection, and of course blockchain and bitcoin were very natural choices to incorporate into this strategy.”

Kasparov also criticised the discriminatory treatment of customers from one territory to the other by tech giants and encouraged internet users to practice “digital hygiene” to stay safe from governments and other third parties.

What do you think about Kasprov’s views toward crypto? Let us know in the comments section below.

The post Chess Grandmaster Kasparov: Bitcoin Empowers the Public and Protects Dissidents appeared first on Bitcoin News.

18 Jul 07:24

Amazon soya and beef exports 'linked to deforestation'

UK consumers may unwittingly be buying meat linked to the destruction of the Amazon, experts say.
06 Jul 19:49

在運動中保持沉默,讓照片說話──林亦非的攝影書寫

獨立攝影人林亦非在反送中運動期間擔任《紐約時報》特約攝影,拍下許多代表性重要照片傳入西方眼廉。他鏡頭下的畫面激情卻客觀,關鍵或許在於他對「沉默」的堅持。
06 Jul 19:43

一條水管如何謀害海洋?公主遊輪甲板下的汙染罪行與平行世界

加勒比公主號遊輪甲板下藏有不為人知的秘密:數千人生活廢水、船隻廢油傾倒大海「稀釋」。檢察官如何尋找犯罪證據?海平面之下還有那些前人汙染遺跡?
06 Jul 18:58

新冠病毒從何而來? 專家:動物傳人疾病的共通點在「森林砍伐」

by 許芷榕
佛羅里達大學醫學系助理教授維特(Amy Y. Vittor)等多位流行病學專家指出,肆虐非洲、亞洲和美洲的各大主要人畜共通傳染病都有個 共同的背景 ——森林砍伐。 全世界上一半以上的熱帶森林砍伐是為了生產四種商品:牛肉、大豆、棕櫚油和木材。隨著單一作物農田和牧場取代了高生物多樣性的熱帶森林後,森林破碎劣化,在破碎森林中掙扎求生的動物與入侵的人類接觸機會增加,新的動物也有機會移入,導致疾病的散播,顯見自然棲地、居住在其中的動物和人類之間的相互關聯性。 黃熱病:猴子、
15 Jun 23:56

繁華落盡的老上海味──台灣第一代江浙菜大廚收山

「我們第一代台籍江浙菜師傅,到我算最後一個了。」台北的老上海菜館4月不敵疫情熄燈,大廚「寶哥」彭永寶經歷,說出了上海菜在台灣起落的時代故事。
01 Jun 21:16

With Riots Erupting in US Cities, Using Tools of Peaceful Protest Can be More Meaningful

by Jamie Redman
With Riots Erupting in US Cities, Using Tools of Peaceful Protest Can be More Meaningful

During the last six days, America has been feeling the wrath of a myriad of protests and riots in nearly every major city across the nation. The U.S. is experiencing an uprising like never before, but some of the protests and demonstrations could be more peaceful. Acts like not voting for the political class, and using alternative monies like bitcoin can go a long way when it comes to civil protest.

America Is on Fire, Governors Invoke Curfews, National Guard Deploys, and Martial Law Starts Trending on Twitter

The protests have become unruly and that is because law enforcement has attacked crowds of innocent peaceful protesters, there are hired groups of inciters there to start violence, state provocateurs have been caught on camera inciting violence, and people are fed up with the decades of police brutality.

With Riots Erupting in US Cities, Using Tools of Peaceful Protest Can be More Meaningful

However, there are other ways people can protest the nation-state’s wrongdoings and immorality, by simply not participating in the corrupt system. By leveraging bitcoin and other means of counter-economics, by not voting for masters, and avoiding the status quo at all costs can be far more peaceful than any street demonstration.

With Riots Erupting in US Cities, Using Tools of Peaceful Protest Can be More Meaningful

Just recently a man named George Floyd was killed when an officer kneeled on his neck for close to ten minutes. There is video footage of the incident and three other officers watched their coworker cause harm to the unarmed man. Floyd is not the only individual that American police have killed and most of the time, U.S. officers never get in trouble for police brutality or killing an innocent.

Floyd’s death was followed by six days of demonstrations, protests, and riots. Cities like Boston, LA, Oakland, Eugene, Portland, Seattle, Minneapolis, Chicago, Denver, San Jose, Orlando, Jacksonville, Tampa, Miami, Lincoln, Des Moines, Austin, Louisville, Dallas, Atlanta, Richmond, Cincinnati, Detroit, Milwaukee, Indianapolis and many more saw major protests with tens of thousands of people.

With Riots Erupting in US Cities, Using Tools of Peaceful Protest Can be More Meaningful

What Pushed People Over the Edge?

We have to understand that people were locked down and told to stay-at-home for three straight months. They are forced into lines, plexiglass windows in their faces, and fined for not wearing masks. Three months later the data is very concrete— And Covid19 wasn’t as scary as everyone thought. The very “best estimate” was 0.4% by the CDC and a lot of people know it’s lower than that with antibody tests and the fudged death counts. People lost their jobs and they can’t eat.

Some people live in the projects and inner cities with barely anything to their name. Paycheck to paycheck they live. More than 1/3 of the American nation is unemployed. Many are hungry. Can’t pay the rent. Suicide and depression are rising super fast. Mortgages are not being paid. Rent can’t be paid. People are still being harassed for social distancing, masks, and the lines and circles painted on the ground. The media hyped them up. The government and ‘expert’ doctors lied and over-projected by 1000X or more. They scared people and caused trauma to their children and took them all out of school.

With Riots Erupting in US Cities, Using Tools of Peaceful Protest Can be More Meaningful

Then some officer kills a man for allegedly passing a counterfeit $20 bill, after the Federal Reserve has been serving counterfeit money for decades. Police have done this so many times before. A man’s neck was kneeled on for close to ten minutes straight. It took the police days to put this officer in cuffs. The three other officers have not been cuffed. Crimes like this have been committed so many times before, and officers are hardly ever held accountable.

In addition to the police brutality that is never really addressed, the U.S. government has been manipulating the populace and stealing from the people for years on end with austerity measures and heavy taxation on income and property. They inflate the dollar and never have jailed a banker – except Bernie Madoff, because he stole from them. Wall Street, the banking cartel and Federal Reserve have destroyed the nation’s money system.

With Riots Erupting in US Cities, Using Tools of Peaceful Protest Can be More Meaningful

The elite in America and many other nation-states, has pushed and pulled people using division by leveraging democrat and republican parties, divided us by race, gender, and made us hate our brothers and sisters, family members. US healthcare sucks, the American education system is horrible, the monopoly of US law enforcement is more about revenue than protecting and serving.

There have been endless wars initiated by U.S. forces for 20 years straight. Multiple countries. Drones and bombs. Kids are taught violence on TV and they are taught to respect the militant officers. Salute them. Death by war is memorialized by the celebration of war. Kids from inner cities and kids who don’t know what to do with their lives are recruited into this madness. Children are taught violence is good and to solve things with force.

A new President Will Not Fix a Dysfunctional America, But Opting Out and Counter-Economics Will

The hierarchies and the system in America is wrong and immoral. And people should continue to peacefully assemble and protest if they want to because it is most definitely warranted. But they should refrain from violence, looting, and burning. That’s not the way to solve the issues at hand. “We the people” are made up of individuals and we need to evolve. Evolution, not Revolution. If we violently overthrow the system, then a violent regime will simply take over again.

With Riots Erupting in US Cities, Using Tools of Peaceful Protest Can be More Meaningful

The madness and insanity will never end, unless we remove the political class nonviolently. There are ways we can peacefully protest without madness. We can use the counter-economy and things like bitcoin to opt-out. We can walk away from the hierarchical systems of manipulation. Stop participating in the system. Don’t vote. A new President will not fix a dysfunctional America. Avoid the political class at all costs. Remove yourself from the division.

With Riots Erupting in US Cities, Using Tools of Peaceful Protest Can be More Meaningful

Libertarians have been saying things like this for years. The system of law is unjust and the monetary system is fraudulent. They use censorship-resistant money in order to avoid the corrupt system and the more people that follow, the more power “we the people” have. Think about it, instead of taking a chance of getting arrested and hurt in a violent mob, you can use your money to circumvent the elite instead. Without the power of money, the immoral state is useless. They could not fund endless wars and create machines of destruction.

With Riots Erupting in US Cities, Using Tools of Peaceful Protest Can be More Meaningful

If the people remove themselves from the fraudulent economy by leveraging barter and trade, hedging with precious metals, and leveraging digital assets, then there’s a great chance of removing the state’s monetary power. If we stop voting and ignore the left and right parties, we can opt-out of the political system and move forward. If we continue to participate in the corrupt system, then people will never learn and fraud will continue with no end in sight. Bitcoin is peaceful protest. Not voting is a peaceful protest. These two acts alone, can help the country a great deal than any mass protest will ever do in a lifetime.

What do you think about peaceful acts of protest like leveraging bitcoin and the counter-economy? Let us know in the comments below.

The post With Riots Erupting in US Cities, Using Tools of Peaceful Protest Can be More Meaningful appeared first on Bitcoin News.

01 May 19:29

「你們、我們」思維的代價:新加坡疫情,為何因移工宿舍感染失控?

新加坡COVID-19疫情因3月底爆發的客工宿舍群聚感染一夕失控。關鍵在於:把移工視為「他者」的思維,埋下了防疫失守的種子。