Quote from: Mike Jones on August 01, 2012, 11:06:39 PM

Quote from: Rarity on August 01, 2012, 11:03:08 PM

Quote from: Mike Jones on August 01, 2012, 10:55:10 PM

Quote from: Rarity on August 01, 2012, 10:49:33 PM

Your bitcoins ultimately rely on the government to maintain the electrical grid and internet infrastructure, this is one of the reasons pro-big government folks like myself like them so much. When people use currency like gold or ammunition in the event of an emergency they can trade and barter with it freely, when we use bitcoins control of the market is in the hands of the government.

The WWW internet infrastructure was inherited from the failed investments of interactive TV. The government had nothing to do with that.

I would know. I lost a lot of money.

You know nothing about the internet, Atlas. It was a government project through and through.

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2012/07/wsj-mangles-history-to-argue-government-didnt-launch-the-internet/

Regardless of where it was inherited from, however, it is undeniable government control is possible at this point. Connections were shut down during the Arab Spring, for example. You have to work around that to get your message out. A currency that relies on internet will not work in that situation as well as gold or ammunition will.

Ponyboy, I have been using the internet since you were in diapers. Now, if you're momma and papa can't help pay for your college and you need Uncle Sam to help you, I can understand the government might be your friend. It has never been mine.

Other than when it gave you the Internet I guess, which Bitcoins entirely rely upon to continue to exist.