Bitcoin Forum

When I go into a store and exchange dollars for a product, the shopkeeper and I both accept a principle that's been bedrock since long before we were born--those dollars have a stable value because the government guarantees it.

But in recent decades, greatly worsening in the last two and a half years, the US federal government has been extremely irresponsible, undercutting the value of the dollar by wanton, profligate, devil-may-care spending and then printing more with quantitative easing and borrowing more and more.  As a result, the dollar does not have a stable value.  It makes you wonder how many in Congress ever took freshman economics.

But suppose the shopkeeper and I find an alternate guarantee of value to exchange.  That seems to be the promise of bitcoin--a medium of exchange that bypasses the effects of any government's irresponsible actions.

However, it's depressing how often it raises the question, "is it legal?"

The United States (and many other free countries, hopefully) is supposed to be about freedom.  Everything is legal unless specifically outlawed.  And things are not arbitrarily outlawed without consent of the governed or without good reason.  This question seems to assume that everything is illegal until the government gives its blessing.  Sick.

So what do you think?  Is bitcoin an expression of freedom?

I say yes, however it is limited (for now [my opinion]).

I think of currency as freedom for a lot of things.

It is freedom from starving. Give me some food and I' give you money.
It is freedom from going to jail (in the U.S. at least and in a lot of cases). My (highly paid) lawyer says that I did not do this crime and can prove it.

BitCoin doesn't offer this yet (or not as easy). You would have to convert your BTCs first.

BTC is gaining greater acceptance. With more acceptance, comes more freedom (or easier freedom).

Keep in mind that (in the U.S. at least) cash doesn't offer freedom at all times. I have seen signs (I haven't in awhile) saying that they do not accept cash (Checks or Money Orders Only).

I assume this is because of all the movies I have seen (maybe you have), I never saw this:

Masked person holds a gun to a clerk and demands, "Give me all of your checks and money orders!!!"

Grated they could use ID theif to cash them (and have the police waiting for them).