I live in the United States and for much of my life I enjoyed the belief that my country was relatively free and stood behind the values of a free market. I have long since been disabused of this myth but now and again something happens to hammer home just how false it is.
I now see -- very clearly -- that all the talk about a 'free market' is strictly intended for the common man. When an ordinary person has fallen on hard times they really need to learn the value of taking responsibility for their actions, show some initiative, pull themselves up by their bootstraps, and other platitudes. Being disciplined by the market is good for ordinary people.
But not for the wealthy. When the wealthy and powerful fell on hard times, responsibility for their actions was out of the question. Not a single one of them has ever been held accountable. All have received their bailouts. Socialism was good enough for them.
I own a small business and I believe in genuine capitalism. I believe in actual free markets. I just don't believe you can find any in the United States (or elsewhere?). The process of starting up an off line business revealed a lot to me about how the 'system works'. My research into possible opportunities with bitcoins has been similarly educational. In both cases what I have found is a system where those who make the rules do so primarily for the benefit of those who have already broken them, in order to make it very difficult for anyone else to succeed. Above all else our government exists to make sure those who have everything, always will.
But I am an optimist.
When problems have no solution they can sometimes be transcended. Bitcoins are a wonderful example of that, and they give me a lot of hope. I will do all I can to be a part of the success that is to come.
I now see -- very clearly -- that all the talk about a 'free market' is strictly intended for the common man. When an ordinary person has fallen on hard times they really need to learn the value of taking responsibility for their actions, show some initiative, pull themselves up by their bootstraps, and other platitudes. Being disciplined by the market is good for ordinary people.
But not for the wealthy. When the wealthy and powerful fell on hard times, responsibility for their actions was out of the question. Not a single one of them has ever been held accountable. All have received their bailouts. Socialism was good enough for them.
I own a small business and I believe in genuine capitalism. I believe in actual free markets. I just don't believe you can find any in the United States (or elsewhere?). The process of starting up an off line business revealed a lot to me about how the 'system works'. My research into possible opportunities with bitcoins has been similarly educational. In both cases what I have found is a system where those who make the rules do so primarily for the benefit of those who have already broken them, in order to make it very difficult for anyone else to succeed. Above all else our government exists to make sure those who have everything, always will.
But I am an optimist.
When problems have no solution they can sometimes be transcended. Bitcoins are a wonderful example of that, and they give me a lot of hope. I will do all I can to be a part of the success that is to come.