...

Well, we're down BIG TIME in the stock market today (Dow down 300 points as of now, 3:05 PM US ET).

I also follow the Baltic Dry Index, although our company in Peru buys by the "less-than-containerload", but marine freight rates for even our small business have come down (Busan and Shanghai to Callao, Peru).

Perhaps payment in US$ by "Money Order/Mail Order" (sort of like a check) that we could mail you to your office).  I am interested in private ways of buying BTC.  I can provide ID, but I want to leave as little a trail as possible.

SOMEONE is going to come up with a private way to buy BTC, and they will make a fortune, a gold mine...


EDIT: changed to "money order/mail order"

...

I did not make that particular purchase (I did buy my first few BTC in the $700s).

But I did buy gold at $1500 (and lower).  Gold is at some $1070 now.  But I count my gold holdings in OUNCES, not US$...

Everyone is foolish at times.  Every investor makes mistakes.

...

One of the reasons I started this thread was to invite lots of ideas.  Armstrong HAS ideas that you do not see in very many places.

I like guys like Rickards* & Dent as well.  They too have ideas.

And for me, that's what I want.  After lots of reading, I will make up my own mind on whose ideas I like the best.  

We all have to choose our own way.

*   *   *

* Rickards did make a serious error on Page 274 in his book The Death of Money.

A 747 cannot hold 150 tonnes (two 747s carrying 150 tonnes each to Japan) of gold, especially on its UPPER DECK.  3 - 5 tonnes maybe.  Whoops.

...

Thanks, own123.  I'll be looking into TOR soon.  It's no business of anyone else's where we go online.  Privacy is important.

And I suspect that terist [sic], money laundering, drug buying, etc. on the dark web is just a big Red Herring anyway.  Just more ammo for the STATISTS to impose their views.

Viva Bitcoin.  Viva encryption.  Viva TOR.

...

I first heard about Bitcoin in 2012, I even invited a "Guess Post" from a software engineer (someone I did not even know) to explain it at my blog.  But, I took no action re buying BTC.

It wasn't until 2013 when Zero Hedge put up a series of articles, that drew in BTC fans, that I actually acted.  And it was the help of those at ZH who got me started.

NONE of my "normal" friends nor family were or even now are into BTC.

...

Good thread guys, thanks for starting this conversation re signing w/ GPG. 

I am a beginner as a couple of you above know.  I am still sending out test messages to encrypt and decrypt them.  "Practice makes perfect."

I don't foresee, in my case, the need for signatures w/ PGP/GPG now.  Later perhaps.

*   *   *

I did have to sign a message proving I owned a BTC address when resolving a mistake I made sending BTC to bitmixer.io (my mistake, I sent it to an older address of theirs).  After some back & forth they refunded my BTC.  This was a year or so ago.  The signature process w/ the BTC address was reasonably simple.

HTH...

...

Thanks, Yakamoto!

Once I finish learning enough about email encryption, TOR may very well be the next technology I try to learn about.  Learn enough to use it, I have no interest (nor ability) to dig down deep into it...

*   *   *

I am already in the process of setting up my new website (ameru.io) which I now own, but it has no content.  I have asked three website designers/builders to quote on about a 10 page site.  A fourth may quote if my computer guy puts my proposed website into the hands of someone here in town who knows about building websites...

This would be informational, with stuff I am interested in (BTC, gold, ball bearings (our business down in Peru), etc.).  I have various "virtual friends" into one or more of those subjects.  My goal would be to have all the stuff that I refer to in one nice handy place.  Others could come and take a look.  Non-commercial.

And taxation IS a difficult subject in any country.  SOMEONE has to pay them, and switching taxation systems means SOMEONE will have to pay more, maybe much more.   NO ONE likes paying more taxes.

That is probably why "they" do not change to a more rational taxation system.  Because of resistance among those who would pay more.

Government spending, like you write, is a whole 'nother subject...   

OK, let's switch focus to TOR vs. VPNs then.  I have never used TOR before, and it looks complicated for a beginner.  I am aware of it's website ( https://www.torproject.org/ ), but still it looks more complicated than email encryption.

Do you three (owm123, Denker and NorrisK) have other comments for a non-pro like me?  How hard is it to learn?


What do some others btctalk members have to say about TOR?


Disclosure: I am not into illegal things nor have any desire to go there.  I just want to know how to be private as I may so choose.

...

Yakamoto

The Income Tax allows governments to snoop into our bank accounts and is already forcing Americans OUT of keeping money in foreign banks ("FATCA" laws) -- these burden foreign banks that would otherwise let Americans open up bank accounts in those countries.  It is NOT government's business to DICTATE what we do with our own money.

The Income Tax is immoral and invites corruption too.  No Income Tax!  Not even a flat one.  The Income Tax is even unconstitutional (USA).

*  *  *

As Sales Tax is regressive on the poor, that is true.  But, it is VOLUNTARY, that is what is special about it...  You want to pay less tax?  Don't buy...  Governments want less consumption (hence cutting CO₂)?  Sales Tax.  Do we encourage SAVING (important)?  Sales Tax.

...

RodeoX, I agree re Iceland.  Also agree with above comments to try to spread BTC at the retail level.

Last I checked at our local Starbucks, they still do not accept BTC.

iCEBREAKER's suggestion of a "hawala" country is good too.  But, my guess is that you would need to know the language pretty well to make progress.  And those places are dangerous.

China & India?  Mmm, only of you are very comfortable in its/their culture(s)...

I saw good cases made for Mexico and Brazil, yeah, maybe so, but again the language.  Argentina as well, there is a very active group there.  FORGET Peru (the country I know best other than the USA), no one knows about it nor cares about it (there are no capital or currency controls in Peru).

My opinions only.

...

I am now reasonably comfortable using gpg4win encryption.

Thank you again Dabs and Ayle56.

I will tinker with them both some more to nail down my knowledge better.

*  *  *

One question:

I tried exporting "my keys" to a flash drive, bit it looks like it only sent the Public Key.  So, how would I decrypt a message on ANOTHER computer (the one at my office)?  I do not see how to do that.

Or does that mean having to have a Key Set for each computer one actively uses?

*  *  *

So, in a few days it's on to other technologies...  

My thoughts on taxation. 

I like the idea of the "Voluntary Taxes", that would be mostly a National Sales Tax.  Say slap 15% sales tax on EVERYTHING that is bought (at retail).  And enforce it.  No exceptions for food, housing, etc.  A National Sales Tax would be less complex that than a European-style VAT.

I do not like property taxes, but I could live with them as long as the taxes are fixed at a reasonable rate.  Real Estate can't be moved, so perhaps there IS a case for taxing it.

An argument could be made for a small percentage tax on financial transactions.  A payroll tax (Social Security) maybe, but the experience to date is bad, .gov has already spent the money received in S.S. taxes, that's why it and MediCare are in such trouble, they already spent the money!

BUT,

Above three taxes ASSUME eliminating the Income Tax and all other kinds of taxes where the government noses around in bank accounts, etc.  Government has no business peaking into my personal affairs.  Invites corruption too...

*  *  *

Inflation is basically a tax on the poor.  And it's sneaky, probably morally very wrong.  But, easy to impose.  Ugh.

...

ace and btckold

Yeah, I agree that moving to Russia or China (unless you are already citizens) is just wrong.  They are dictatorships, and unless you are connected to the Nomenklatura there is nothing worthwhile for outsiders, particularly small investors.  Maybe if you are REALLY RICH, maybe, maybe not...

If regulations get too strict here in the West, there will probably be time to get OUT of Bitcoin before it goes to zero.  It's a risk, but it seems that BTC will do just fine.  I hope...

Using a VISA gift card is a great idea, maybe I'll buy one and try them too.

I contacted them recently, they said that they did require ID (passport), Artem was the name IIRC.

Yes, please report back if they perform OK.  If I get a gift card, I will try to do the same.

THX 1138

Left somewhat unsaid by Armstrong is whether or not there are some things "that are different this time".  Maybe that's why he does not make hard & fast predictions, there my be new factors nowadays that are not in his model...

If I had to guess, I would agree with Armstrong (and some other observers), at least for 2016: that the US$ will be strong for a while as people all over the world flee somewhat to put their money here.  Stocks?  Wow, I don't know, fundamentals seem to be kind of bad.  Now does not seem to be a good time to own capital assets (like chip factories or railroads).  Later on might be a different story as the economy recovers...  IF it recovers...

I also think that a DEFLATION is more likely in the short-term than inflation or hyperinflation (which would occur after a deflation).

...

Yeah, I have a few minor issues with the graphic as well.

-- Bitcoin is not easily transactable.  Outside of here and reddit, who does Bitcoin?  It's complicated, you all have just forgotten...
-- Gold is relatively decentralized.  If you want essentially unlimited amounts, it is available.  You just have to pay the right price.
-- Gold is scarce

"There is always someone around who will take your gold in trade."  <--- Not true (yet) for Bitcoin.

Well, I'm a gold guy (and BTC of course), but thank you for your respectful opinion.  For me, it's perfectly OK (recommended even) to have 5% of your (net) wealth in gold.

ZH is FULL of anti-Semites and Putin Bootlickers, very true.  Too many ads, although I have not gotten around to installing adblock (etc.).

But, they have broken some stories ahead of everyone else (like this one, especially if it's true, LOL).  I am wary of too much CNBC & Bloomberg finance news.  I like reading lots of stuff, even if I have to be extra wary as you suggest.

...

Ayle56 and Dabs

Each of you has a message on somewhat different subjects.

Ayle56...  Eeek!  Some of that last post on the last page made my brain break out in some kind of mental rash or something.  I dimly understand what you are writing about Craig Wright in Oz, but that's about it.  But, I will check out the countermail tool you provided in due course (soon).  I already have a homework assignment to check out verifying signatures...



*   *   *

Keep in mind, though, that we are ALL likely "little fish" (I am anyway), and so are not a target of our pals at .gov.

Would the Rich And Powerful be commenting here at bitcointalk?  Probably not (well, maybe r******* and some developers/pioneers, but I wouldn't know).

Still, the more who are better informed, the better for all of us.