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I have been called a statist and perhaps fair enough as I believe humans are generally herd-social animals. We are our most productive and secure when in groups. The problem this creates is politics and the misuse of power by those who come to dominate- but the problem is also with the majority who behave like sheep and do not object and force change upon the leaders. I agree that modern liberal democracies are constructed in a manner where only the pretense of citizens choice exists- in reality the power of wealthy corporates and backroom sponsors of those in power remains- they own both the main parties in most western democracies to some extent.
People feel disillusioned with democracy because it has been hijacked by these sly corporate sponsors- but we also have to own that we, the people have been apathetic and lazy and need to wake up and fight for our rights and freedom.
IMO the right tends to be more corrupted by corporate sponsors but the left has at the same time been captured by identity politics.
Ultimately I assert that we, the people have more power than the politicians want use to realise- but we can realise our power by many means.
I both participate in the contest of ideas and take direct action in some areas where I can and feel I live a relatively free life - freer than 99% of the people I see around me.
The price of freedom is not trivial- it requires a determination and willingness to leave the crowd and chart your own course- but we can do it.
Bitcoin is certainly part of the liberating technologies we now have and certainly not the only one.
Ultimately no government can force us to obey if we resist and follow what we believe is right.
The price may be high, but to be a slave or free is a choice we can still seek to exercise if we are determined.
They do not want us to think for ourselves, but they cannot stop us!
I think coordination in groups and being a statist aren't the same thing. Coordination is preferable because there is definitely strength in numbers to a point; but the problem with statists is that every economic interaction puts the state in the centre. The state is the worst administrator and trusted third party to have in the middle of any interaction because it's not optimized for truth nor efficiency but to for the maximization of power by a few individuals and use that power to extract wealth and resources from everyone else. Democracy makes the state a god and that's why it ultimately leads to mob rule then eventually totalitarianism. As for the right/left they are both corrupted by corporate interests just different versions. The right is more military industrial complex driven and the left is more financial industrial complex driven; with Big tech playing both sides depending on who's in power. The identity politics thing is what makes the left seem more crazy to me because at the heart of it is the denial of basic biological facts. Apart from that both of these sides are manufactured as part of the divide and conquer strategy; so people are busy fighting to notice that it's the same boot on their necks. It's the state vs the individual and always has been.
Bitcoin was the first of many solutions to restore power to the individual and away from the trusted third parties who have become the new slave masters. This opportunity and strategic is currently not being used wisely imo.
imo the ideal role of the state is to provide the best possible conditions for all citizens.
That means rule of law and enforceable contracts. It can also mean investment in services and infrastructure that enhances the productive potential of citizens- that can include education, health, roads, communications, power supply and research funding. Private enterprise alone will not always provide the basic building blocks of a productive economy with the best interests of all citizens.
If left to its own devices and objectives private enterprise will where possible form cartels and monopolies and extract 'taxes' imposed upon all other citizens for no gain for the majority.
An example of good government is where ancient Chinese taxed farmers and used that revenue to build canals which enabled the movement of the farmers produce to the markets that would pay the highest price.
No private enterprise could build the canals required without extracting the maximum profit from farmers using them whereas a government can provide such productivity enhancing infrastructure without abusing the monopoly position it builds.
Good government can improve the wealth and security for citizens in some situations where private enterprise has neither the mandate nor incentive to do so.
Another example is how modern China has subsidised rare earths refining to give it a huge strategic lever over the current super power USA.
Nation states have a considerable influence and effect on the wealth of their citizens.
Citizens are also equally responsible for ensuring their government is good, and not bad by actively challenging their government wherever and whenever it is captured by private rentseeking sponsors. Too often people can't be bothered due to the effort required to demand and achieve change in government.
Bitcoin provides an opportunity to challenge what has become an unhealthy government backed monopoly over MoE in a peaceful and constructive way...but also demonstrates that the vast majority of citizens cannot be bothered thinking for themselves and acting to apply pressure upon government excess. Most people have been brainwashed to believe they cannot change the system and that is what the system depends upon- the majority being easily herded sheep.
It's interesting how you think the state is better placed to do infrastructure projects and the like on the basis that the pvt sector will likely form cartels and yet the state itself is a cartel. Cartels aren't inventions of the pvt sector. You did make a great point about apathy from the citizens and that's definitely true but i think the system is designed to produce this exact outcome. Explains why even with Bitcoin most people are yet to understand how important a tool they have at their disposal and have let the suitcoiners run the show
The state has both a mandate and incentive to create a strong economy within its territory as this both benefits the nation and the government and builds wealth and security for both the government and the nation.
Only a corrupt government will not seek the maximisation of its territorial economic potential- and a corrupt government can only exist where citizens apathy allows it to.
Corrupt governments rely upon such apathy.
Private business has no such incentive to maximise the wealth creation and competitive advantage of the nation state. A private business will naturally, if it can, exploit market dominance (control over canal system or railroads or internet cables) because its primary goal is to maximise the gain for shareholders.
Thank you for reading and for your compliment plus this detailed response. Feedback of this kind is exactly what I enjoy. You raise an important point that people expect politicos to be corrupt on some level and they expect more election promises to be broken than those that are fulfilled. On one hand it seems pragmatic to do so but on the other it's the open door to all kinds of shenanigans. This is how we ended up with an institution like the Federal Reserve and why over a century later it is yet to be dismantled. I think both the right and left are no different because they are both statists who seek to impose their will via state power. Lefties are more crazier in my view, but it's irrelevant because you end up with more totalitarianism and less freedom regardless of who's in charge.
Bitcoin is a great foundation for countering the work of the Epstein network and really decapitating it, something that can never happen via the ballot box