by
Ramin Mazaheri
Part
5 - Leftists must embrace bitcoins immediately and without
reservation
Right now,
bitcoins are continuing the rather unfortunate trend in the US of
libertarians being at the crest of the political wave. Their
anti-authority/pro-liberty/anti-spying stance is, after all, quite
compatible with countless aspects of socialism in the digital age.
True leftists have repeatedly lamented that fake-leftists dismiss
libertarianism, the Tea Party, Trumpers, etc., without even examining
their ideologies and giving credit when it is justified.
But this is
the reality: The potential of bitcoins to empower the individual AND
the collective is greatly threatened by the
libertarianism/voluntarism which currently dominates the bitcoin
community of early adopters. Their view is typical of the Arizona
rancher who forgets that he sits on stolen Apache land, refuses to
pay for air conditioning in government offices or schools and cares
for nothing but ensuring his own prosperity.
In short,
American libertarianism is synonymous with “radical individualism”:
that’s why during the recent two hurricanes CNN could interview an
economist for a segment asking, “Is price gouging during
emergencies a good thing?” and actually get away with it.
No, you must
be banned from selling bottled water for $99 per case in
hurricane-hit areas; yes, the government should requisition your
stocks for trying, you anti-social bastard. But this idea of “my
rights, my rights, MY RIGHTS”, this complete abdication of
collective solidarity, is widespread in America, and CNN likely added
a few more converts….
During the
hurricanes the US media constantly repeated: “Now THIS is where the
government should step in,” as in, “Finally, we have a good use
for regulation”. This is a renunciation of the idea that an
individual has social responsibility, and it is morally appalling.
Again,
bitcoiners, the problem is YOUR capitalist government: Cuba’s
hurricane preparation is the best in the region, with officials who
were tasked with post-Hurricane Katrina saying “We could be
learning from them.” You are 15 times more likely to be killed
by a hurricane in the US than if you are in Cuba, and that’s
despite the international blockade on things like building materials
leading to innumerable, dangerous old buildings. Bitcoin can
circumvent this and reward good governance; too many bitcoiners think
“good governance” is an oxymoron.
Well, if
bitcoin is going to improve the world – and the many bitcoin
evangelists swear that it will (and I believe them) – they must
leaven their quest for personal empowerment/MY rights with the moral
demand for collective unity that is only found in socialism.
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