Bitcoin and the Politics of Non-Political Money
An early trope about bitcoin was that it was ‘non-political’ money. That’s a tantalizing notion, given the ugliness of politics. But a monetary system is a social system, technology is people, and open-source software development requires intensive collaboration – particularly around a protocol with strong network effects. When the group is large enough and the subject matter important enough, human relations become politics. I think that is true even when it’s not governmental (read: coercive) power at stake. Bitcoin’s politics burst into public consciousness last week with the “whiny....
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Politics in today’s world no longer has anything political about it, and how Bitcoin revives The Political.
By using the concept of Bitcoin and blockchain technology, real democracy can be reinstated in the world of politics. The concept of Bitcoin and blockchain technology can be used as an example of how to revolutionize certain aspects of life. Politics are a very likely candidate, as the way we vote or create political parties needs to be revamped. The Flux Party in Australia is taking that principle to heart, as they are labeling themselves as the “Bitcoin of politics”. Quite a bold statement but their ideology holds particular merits that are worth exploring further. If The Flux Party has....
One thing to be aware of in our world is, sadly, politics. Yes, Politics. It's 'smart-people' term for 'yelling about government.' Take it from me, Calvin Tran. I was oddly fascinated with politics in 3rd grade with the election of George Bush VS John Kerry. I was the typical brainless child who stood by his parents's opinions and with no real understanding of politics. This came back in 2011 when I discovered Ron Paul, and (yes, I can see your eyes rolling) I became enthused with the Libertarian ideals of free market principles and social freedoms. Since then, I've been enthralled by....
Politics dominates much of the Bitcoin vs. gold debate. Bitcoin enthusiasts often speculate on how the digital currency can undermine the state, fostering individual economic liberty for society at large. On the other hand, Bitcoin skeptics worry about the currency enabling their political enemies to gain a financial advantage. For example, Bitcoin-friendly political candidates can draw in single-interest voters from all demographics — from both the left and right — by taking a strong and positive stance on Bitcoin. Alternatively, as a more insidious example, terrorist groups like ISIS can....
David Golumbia, an assistant professor in the Department of English at Virginia Commonwealth University, an aspiring political pundit, and the author of the recently published book, The Politics of Bitcoin: Software as Right-Wing Extremism, denounces Bitcoin in a recent blog post titled Trump, Clinton, and the Electoral Politics of Bitcoin. “[What] concerns me about Bitcoin is how it contributes to the spread of deeply right-wing ideas in economics and political philosophy without those right-wing associations being made at all explicit,” says Golumbia, adding that the freedom and....