What exactly is wrong with the free state project? I'm actually curious, because I don't know you personally but someone I respect highly evidently trusts you so I'd like to hear it. I had heard of them before and I thought it was good thing at first. The first time I actually heard their show was the coverage of the first big Bitcoin Foundation conference. I told my Dad about it and he was over when the conference was starting. They started running commercials claiming all government workers were "murders." Totally off-the-wall stuff. Since then I have been watching the members of this organization talk about Bitcoin and there was quite a bit of exaggeration and misrepresentation. It is not just one or two instances, it is a pattern. What they are doing is using Bitcoin to promote their agenda and they attach the success of their agenda to the success of Bitcoin, hence the misinformation and exaggeration. these exaggerations include claims that the Bitcoin economy is huge and increasing exponentially. Another claim is that it is impossible to change the 21 million limit yet they claim it is easy to fix bugs and change the number of decimal digits. Ver says the OpenBazaar is based on "blockchain technology." Then there are the claims that Bitcoin will end war or somehow change the way the entire world works. The vast number of potential Bitcoin users are never going to agree with this stuff. I agree that there is an erosion of liberties, government is too big, financially irresponsible, and all that but the Free State people are so far out they offer no benefit to Bitcoin. it is true that some of those people blazed the trail for Bitcoin in its early days but now they are a detriment by using Bitcoin to promote an agenda. You may notice that successful Bitcoin businesses are not promoting Bitcoin as a tool to end war, collapse governments, or replace the US dollar. |
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You do realize that many of the people using Bitcoin have something they hate about the current system of governance. They see Bitcoin as a way to take a bite out government control and put themselves in charge. The most obvious reason for that perception is because they feel they were somehow wronged by the system. Why should Ver be any different. When I was young we used M-80s to scare game away from our back yards. We could buy huge Roman candles that carried enough black powder to blow up a barn. I guess sometime in the last 30 years or so the American people got too stupid to be allowed to use fireworks safely. That's funny because I read a report that firework accidents causing house fires have continuously gone up over the last 30 years even though fireworks are less potent and better regulated. I don't see Ver as being a real threat to this stupid country. I just don't see him entering the country to compete with Indian reservations by selling illegal fireworks. I can only imagine that if you knew the full bio on a lot of the Bitcoin supporters you would probably run for the hills.
The U.S. Government acts like the biggest kid on the block. He's a bully that's used to getting his own way and steals your lunch money. When he doesn't get his way because someone stands up to him he holds a grudge and causes as much trouble as he can. Someone needs to report the USG to the teacher because he needs a good spanking.
Of course, that is why I am involved. Just because I am dissatisfied with parts of the system does not mean the solution is some kind of ridiculous fantasy anarcho-whatever system that would have everyone living in caves. As for the "US Government" it is a collection of different agencies and branches all with their own missions and interests. Only delusion wing nuts group lump them together into one entity and they are voted in by the populace anyway. Bitcoin is a tool that will force the hands of certain regulatory and commercial entities but it isn't going to end wars or collapse governments. The only people who think that way are a few dumb kids who have not experienced the world and a few older mentally ill people like Roger Ver who don't learn anything from their life experiences. |
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Very interesting, Fred Whitehurst. I met him several times when I worked for the FAA. I did research on explosives and weapons detection systems (my background is in physics) and the FBI would look at our tests because they would use some of the same equipment as the FAA (This was before Homeland security existed). Whitehurst was an FBI agent and worked in the crime lab and he knew a lot about detecting explosives. He would go on dangerous missions and he had stories about how he was in war-torn countries would fake a flat tire so he could rub up against a suspect car bomb vehicle and take his clothes back to lab to check for residue. He used to uncover a bunch of improprieties at the FBI lab and complain about them. He eventually got into a big dispute with the FBI and spent several years going to law school at night. He got a law degree, quit, and sued the FBI and got a big settlement. The government is full of screw-ups and people trying to cover their ass but the stupid "anarchy" stuff is no solution of any sort. it is just a childish reaction to the normal human problem you see in any system. Since Whitehurst was and FBI agent people like Ver and the Free State Project call him a "murderer" too. Don't you see how ridiculous those people are and how stupid they make Bitcoin look? |
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When I first got involved in Bitcoin I listened to the coverage of the first big conference by Free State radio. They ran an announcement several times throughout the conference where they claim all government employees were murderers. In other words, janitors, social security clerks, astronauts, etc. ... all "murderers."
It's a stretch. But isn't that just what you've done? Ver is the one who equates the agents at WACO and the ones who took down Silk Road as "the violent ones" and "murderers."
If Ulbricht is the victim of a disinfo campaign about the hits -- a possibility which I believe plausible, if not necessarily probable -- then I would wholeheartedly agree with Ver's alleged characterization. I'll assume you've never bothered to dig any deeper than the MSM accounts of the Waco incident? View "Waco: A New Revelation" then get back to the discussion. Protip: the victors get to write the "official" "history". Fun fact for today: Lon Horiuchi - the very butcher who senselessly murdered Vicki Weaver while she held her baby in her arms, was on scene coordinating the snipers during the last moments of conflagration at Waco. theymos always presents his chidish arguments that money laudering laws are immoral so what is wrong with presenting that idea to the French public?
Childish? 'Money laundering' is a silly made up 'crime'. Protip2: If a single incident of a so-called 'crime' does not result in at least one single identifiable direct victim, then there are many who would agree that such a thing is not actually a crime at all. I mean - sure - I abide by such stupid laws. But only from a desire not to be thrown in a cage by scary people with guns. I didn't do anything except suggest Theymos present his agenda to the French public. It is your perception of that suggestion that seems to be the problem. Maybe you know there is something wrong with your ideas and you are reacting in this way? As someone else pointed out, take your ideas to your friends, family, and strangers on the street and see how that pans out. As for Ross Ulbricht, irrespective of the murder for hire issues, do you know anyone addicted to Xanax or heroin? Do you know how these drugs work? As for money laundering, there are large numbers of criminals who have laundered money in order to engage in terrorism, human trafficking, etc. Those are the victims you say don't exist. Welcome to the real world and adulthood. https://blog.caseykuhlman.com/entries/2014/bitcoin-somaliland.html |
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it's because Ver is contributing to Ulbricht's defense fund
gotta admit .. I respect Roger Ver
It is more likely due to the combination of renouncing citizenship. running an offshore tax shelter business, and keeping citizenship in 2 different countries. As for Ulbricht, Ver had his Mother make those video so he could promote his agenda. She is going through probably the worst time of her life and she has to put up with being used by some agenda-pusher like Ver to try to get funds for the legal defense. |
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I think Ver should go France this week along with Vorhees and Theymos. They can set up public discussion explaining how the government agents who are tracking the terrorists are really the violent ones. Then Theymos can start crying about how money laundering laws are immoral. Then put the whole thing on youtube and see what people think.
Wow, that's wrong on so many levels. If you hate theymos so bad that you have to bitch about him constantly then why do you hang out on his forum? What are you saying? Ver, Vorhees and Theymos are wrong on so many levels? What levels are those? I just think Theymos should present his agenda to the French public so we can see what they think. I didn't present an opinion, I am just repeating theymos' agenda. Is there something wrong with it? |
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I think Ver should go France this week along with Vorhees and Theymos. They can set up public discussion explaining how the government agents who are tracking the terrorists are really the violent ones. Then Theymos can start crying about how money laundering laws are immoral. Then put the whole thing on youtube and see what people think.
Well, seeing as you put this on BCT for the whole world to see, I can tell you what I think. I think that you equating anything Ver, Vorhees, or Theymos may have done with violent murder is absolutely repugnant. When I first got involved in Bitcoin I listened to the coverage of the first big conference by Free State radio. They ran an announcement several times throughout the conference where they claim all government employees were murderers. In other words, janitors, social security clerks, astronauts, etc. ... all "murderers." Ver is the one who equates the agents at WACO and the ones who took down Silk Road as "the violent ones" and "murderers." theymos always presents his chidish arguments that money laudering laws are immoral so what is wrong with presenting that idea to the French public? |
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I think Ver should go France this week along with Vorhees and Theymos. They can set up public discussion explaining how the government agents who are tracking the terrorists are really the violent ones. Then Theymos can start crying about how money laundering laws are immoral. Then put the whole thing on youtube and see what people think.
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You give an amazing point of view. Living in an echo chamber push you not to be open to others ideas and point of view.
I don't agree there's an absolute zero chance that Bitcoin will have mass adoption by listening to the ideas of these people if mass adoption means a Trillion market cap in the sense that they can be part of the solution and convince people like me who will convince other people in a less passionate way.
There are plenty of reasonable people who promote Bitcoin and I am convinced they will propel Bitcoin forward. Those people DO NOT include the usual people you hear about on the discussion boards, like Shrem, Vorhees, Rassah, Ver etc. are all pushing a fantasy agenda, not Bitcoin. They don't get much traction promoting their agenda alone so they linked their agenda to Bitcoin. They misrepresent things, make wild claims, talk like it some kind of religion, and act like people will be walking around with Ayn Rand books under their arm once they do a Bitcoin transaction. If those people ran things there would be zero chance of mass adoption. Once the nut job wing nuts get pushed out by the reasonable people I think things will be fine. Not that their ideas are 100% wrong, they just push things to a ridiculous extreme. |
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If any of you have heard Charlie speak - say on Lets Talk Bitcoin podcast, or elsewhere, and you are over age .... say .... 30 ... one thing is very clear about Charlie. He's young. Psychologically speaking. Just listening to him talk made that very obvious. There's a certain naivety in his thinking, which no doubt played a role. But he's probably no younger than he should be psychologically, at his age. He said a lot of things on the podcasts that he knew he shouldn't be saying, and his attorneys advised him never to say - let alone on a podcast. But he did anyway. He's got an element of recklessness in him personality-wise, and of course he has political beliefs that don't exactly give a shit about government, nor rules. So to be completely honest, what did you expect? He was just being who he is. Although I can't agree the guy harmed anyone. He said he has learned his lesson. I suppose my point is that you've got a hardcore libertarian / anarchist here who is also a bit young and inexperienced. Those are relevant factors, though they don't matter when it comes to breaking the law. He's not a martyr, but he did deserve the extremely toned-down sentence he got. He was thankful to the judge for being lenient, and I think it was a fair move on the judge's part. He could've gotten 20+ years.
-B-
If you listen to him and look at things like his court statement the thing that jumps out at me is that he doesn't learn and he doesn't listen. Bitcoin is a great technology but it is not the biggest thing that has ever happened to the world and he is not the "messiah" that he thinks he is. He knows something about Bitcoin and he thinks he he knows about everything and predict all kinds of things. His success in Bitcoin has gone to his head and it has screwed up his decision-making process. For instance, he speaks out against copyrights. he points to abuses and says the whole system should be ended. the guy lives with his parents and made money with Bitcoin. He never had to work as an independent musician or artist and he does not have the slightest idea how the system works or what it means to all those people. he goes around talking like the whole world is stupid. He is ridiculous and he only hangs out with other mentally ill people like Roger Ver who go around talking about how Bitcoin will end war. He lives in an echo chamber so he never listens to any other point of view. in one interview he was practically in tears saying how nobody, including his parents, don't understand him and that only other Bitcoiners understand him. He doesn't realize that is him who doesn't understand the rest of the world. Theymos is the same way. There is absolutely zero chance that Bitcoin will have mass adoption by listening to the ideas of these people and allowing them to run things. However, I believe people will eventually see past the crazies and see Bitcoin for its true value. See, for instance, https://blog.caseykuhlman.com/entries/2014/bitcoin-somaliland.html for an idea of how the real world sees some of the Bitcoin nonsense. That being said, I don't like the idea of paying to house jackasses like Shrem for crimes that are not that serious. He should have gotten probation. |
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That's terrible news. He didn't do anything ethically wrong.
Throughout all this, I've been wondering how much he was actually complicit in the Silk Road stuff. Apparently he knew that btcking had something to do with the Silk Road, but was it just a bit of passing knowledge, or was he actually very purposefully trying to help btcking with money laundering? I'd feel better if it was the latter, since at least he'd have known the risks ahead of time.
Your "ethically wrong" argument is for Internet discussion boards and it holds no weight in the real world and is obviously wrong. While the system is abused the laws were put in place to stop things like terrorism, human trafficking, etc. The laws were put in place for an ethical purpose and they sometime work. People want these laws because they sometimes do work and people feel it protects their security. You can try to point to abuses and claim the whole system should stop and claim it is "morally wrong" but they are going to point to you and say allowing terrorism and human trafficking is morally wrong. in any case the laws are in place and it doesn't matter what you think. As for Shrem, you can read the evidence. It looked like some guy kept bugging him and he finally caved and did the transaction. It was not an ongoing conspiracy and he had no record so I think he should have gotten probation. Shrem admitted to knowing the guy was doing money transmission without a license and did the transaction anyway. |
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Nice. I just read your opposition and it seems very solid.
It's important to fight these dodgy trademarks before they get approved. Trademark owners can attempt to obtain domain names by threatening to make a false cyber-squatting claim against the owner, even though they have no right to the name and would lose in court. It is called "reverse domain hijacking". They are basically hoping that the owner will be too intimidated or embarrassed to defend their property and so will cave in to their demands.
Mt. gox already have registered marks for "bitcoin" in the EU and I think Japan. I heard stories that some people had trouble registering domains because that trademark is in the trademark clearinghouse database. Not sure about this this because bitcoin was registered in several new TLD's. In any case a TM owner of "Bitcoin" in any class can top domain registrations since a domain does not have a class associated with it like trademarks. http://www.trademark-clearinghouse.com/content/what-trademark-clearinghouse |
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Last chance for this year. last mailing is Sat morning to get there by Christmas.
the physical coins can be sent anytime.
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The major areas I can think of are taxation, money laundering/Know your Customer (KYC)/Money Transmission, consumer protection, and investments/securities. I would treat these discussion separately for the most part.
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Pure Bitcoin is not really regulated much. it is when Bitcoin touches the legacy financial system such as exchanges when most of the regulation comes in.
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Wait so you can send my greeting to the country i want?
Act fast if you want delivery outside the USA. |
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Ordered 2 of these for my kids!
I am preparing todays batch now, it will go out in a few minutes. It is not just for kids, it can be used for Christmas greeting for anyone. Your favorite Bitcoin company, Ben Lawsky, .... 100% custom letter. |
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