Bitcoin Forum

I was just wondering, if anyone would like to start a petition to legalize bitcoins. It would obviously mean very little, but I geuss it could just propose the legalization of bitcoins just for some fun. It would be intresting to see how many people would sign it.
So, your thought?

Come on. They aren't even hassling us yet and you're ready to start begging them to stop?

Even from a good slave perspective it makes no sense. Everything is legal that is not prohibited, even officially we don't live in a permission-to-live society.

Are you preemptively organizing this petition, for when Bitcoins are outlawed, just for fun?

No-one said they were illegal ... although I think you've just taken the opportunity to put up a scaremongering headline in the main discussion for noobs to run smack slam into with their first bitcoin encouter ... fail.

Yeah, if this wasn't your intention you can change the headline. I don't know exactly what you're suggesting people do though. No one can make anything legal, they can only stop hurting people for doing things. And no one is hurting anyone yet, so they can't really stop.

If US decides to outlaw bitcoin - let them. They are willingly preventing themselves from using a best monetary instrument out there, and once the rest of the world will make bitcoin stronger - they'll have to be buying bitcoins the on black market at outrageous prices :) Talk about shooting oneself in the proverbial foot.

I don't think there is a single prohibition in the history of mankind that was successfully enforced.

If you want Bitcoins to go mainstream I don't think it's a very good idea to give people the impression that it's illegal...

Since when Bitcoin is illegal? I'm just taking part in worldwide hashing project :D

As Grinder said, asking for legalization is making a statement that it's illegal now. Very Bad Idea.

Yeah dude!
Legalize it!

I just grow natural bitcoins at home, who am I harming?

Just because I trade my homegrown coins, the police break into my house and... oh wait. They don't! Nevermind  ;D

It's not a question of legalizing BitCoins as, it is not yet illegal.

Actually, we should preempt any future laws by starting a constitutional amendment forbidding congress from passing any laws prohibiting the use of alternative currencies.

It does involve a lot of hash, so it must be illegal...

How is it that discussion about a worldwide digital hard currency revolves exclusively around the good old United States of America?

How come nobody ever discusses the prospect of heavy-duty legislation against bitcoin or similar currencies in China, Iran or North Korea? Those strike me as a lot more interesting scenarios, especially given their capabilities to censor and surveil the internet. Americans have been spied on but the government has never publicly shown the ability to get something like the Great Firewall going or track Tor users.

It isn't obvious? The U.S.A. has the biggest guns.

Sorry, I should have been mor specific. What I meant is more of a petition encouraging laws protecting electronic currencies.

Watch out for what you wish for. Laws are nothing but promises of violence.

^This.

Also, I think bitcoin is quite useful as a tool to advance the counter-economy (which requires that it remain in the grey market).

Why even bother? In most major western economies, and especially in the US, the monetary system is controlled by a central bank. In the United States, that central bank has sole control over the money and liberally prints up fiat (useless) currency that they control and manipulate. There's no way they're going to support another, competing, currency that they can't control.

The petition would be meaningless. But it's also unneeded. You can trade in any currency you want and, at least in the USA, it's not illegal. If we all decided that we would use monopoly money as currency we're allowed to do that. It just wouldn't be 'official tender' and couldn't be used to pay taxes.

I wouldn't waste my time with a petition. It's dead before it even gets started. No way the bankers would allow it.

Rage

never let 'em see you sweat...

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