Quote from: JimCGSavings on May 24, 2013, 02:43:30 PM

Quote from: pwi on May 24, 2013, 11:49:43 AM

...Regardless your answer, I'd still choose you for escrow to sell my PS3 to help pay for the next round of oncologist visits while I wait on a response from Medicaid.

pwi, I appreciate the backup and I'm sorry that this issue is still bothering you. The entire reason I raised the issue is because my wife and I are in a temporary catch 22 situation with our local government. If it hasn't become clear by now, we don't have the means financially, or permission under the guidelines of our particular situation, to save money in a bank account for essential expenditure situations that arise from time to time. This puts me in a situation where I have to save fiat currency in a portable fireproof safe to pay for these, or use our single credit card for such emergency purchases, pushing us further into debt. I did not mean for this to become an argument about the legality of these issues. I have no intention of offering proof one way or the other about our situation. It's not important to me one way or the other whether anyone here believes me or not. It won't change the temporary reality we live in. That will take another 7 years. I'm merely looking for a better way to save and spend on things we need than the equivalent of stuffing money in a mattress. The dispute DID remind me, as always, it's more important to me that we stay within the boundaries of our limitations than worrying about incurring debt that can't force us out of it. While I'm still waiting an answer as to the acceptability of Bitcoin as a savings and spending method, I now doubt that it will be allowed. I can probably spend fiat currency on purchasing Bitcoins, and posses them, as long as I don't exchange them back into fiat currency that has to be reported, especially if that earns us income. I am checking on that with the PTB, as there are members of our family that have been frustrated in their inability to help us financially due to those income limitations we are temporarily under. You may have noticed that I added and have left a BTC donation address to my messages. I'm not gonna remove it. No one has sent any there, but it's my little rebellion against the system I am trapped in, and it makes me feel better. If it becomes a problem, I can forget the address and never access it again. If anyone here feels the need to vent about that, feel free. I deal with stuff everyday that just makes a good online chewing out amusing and enlightening. (grin) I've enjoyed watching Bitcoin the same way I enjoyed watching the Internet go from being a weird hobby to changing the world as we know it. I think Bitcoin is doing the same thing. I'd like to participate, but it the PTB say no, Oh well. I'll still watch and it'll still be fun to do so. Life goes on.

I'll conclude by offering my sympathy and empathy for your own situation. Waiting on Medicaid with it's automatic rejections and required legal fight is one of the more ridiculous aspects of our system. Similar to the 24 month waiting period between qualifying for SSD and qualifying for Medicare. Why? "because that's the way the system works". If you've racked up medical debt at hospitals like we were forced to, check with their financial departments about Financial Assistant Programs. It's a lot of paperwork, but I managed to get the medical debt we incurred during those ever so fun 24 months down from $160k to $20k using them. Good luck!

Thanks so much Jim. My support is trivial at best. The aggression displayed by some bothers me for whatever reason. This aggression will not stand. Man.

For the record: Until my authorities dictate the nature of bitcoins as some intangible or tangible asset, I fail to see the need to report it. I will continue to report gains in and conversions to fiat as income/assets as required by said authorities.

I have a hard enough time explaining Bitcoin to MBA students and local merchants, let alone the kind lady at the desk or on the phone at the local government office. Until they understand and regulate it of their own volition; I fail to see the need to educate and inform them.

Keep fighting the good fight Jim. Those of us that care and understand will continue to do so. Those that do not will remain cold and hardened. All but gweedo; I can dismiss as trolling newbies. I'd expect 'hero' members to exercise virtuous silence if not offering words of support. It just makes for a better community environment.