comrades, is bitcoin a great leap forward for international socialism?

[stevendobbs]

I'm a socialist and im very interested in the emergence of bitcoin. And I see that many libertarians, and ayn randbots are likewise intrigued.

What interests me at the moment about the bitcoin approach, is that it appears to be a 'worker owned' financial system that unites some disparate globe spanning ideologies.

economic secessionist movements is one way to move forward together into the new global age of socialism? a 1000 years of socialism, helped by bitcoin emergence?

[cbeast]

I'm a socialist and im very interested in the emergence of bitcoin. And I see that many libertarians, and ayn randbots are likewise intrigued.

What interests me at the moment about the bitcoin approach, is that it appears to be a 'worker owned' financial system that unites some disparate globe spanning ideologies.

economic secessionist movements is one way to move forward together into the new global age of socialism? a 1000 years of socialism, helped by bitcoin emergence?

Socialism and every and all other "isms" are reifications and silly nonsensical words that allude to an idea that is too vague to imply anything specific. The fact is, bitcoin has powerful attributes that provide necessary functions for trade better than other types of "money." Getting goods and services to our family members around the world is important for people that love peace. Bitcoin is a step in the right direction until we have something even better one day. You can call it Socialism, but all men are brothers or at least distant cousins.

[cryptobard]

Anything is, vacuously, a step forward for international communism, if you catch my drift...

Getting goods and services to our family members around the world is important for people that love peace. Bitcoin is a step in the right direction until we have something even better one day.

I think these two sentences are worthy of a /thread.

[ThomasV]

I think that Bitcoin is neutral with respect to the "left versus right" debate.

Bitcoin is anti-Keynesianism, and pro austrian economics.

Keynesianism is often associated with the left, but that association is wrong; most governments follow a keynesian policy, whether they are left or right sided.

The debate between right and left is mostly about wealth redistribution, and the size of the government in the economy.
Bitcoin is neutral in this debate; it is perfectly possible to envision a taxation system adapted to Bitcoin (see Falkvinge's article on that:
http://falkvinge.net/2011/05/19/the-information-policy-case-for-flat-tax-and-basic-income/ ).

What Bitcoin does not allow is to create money out of thin air. It is sound money.

[Piper67]

Neither socialist nor libertarian, Bitcoin honest be 

[someotherguy]

What Bitcoin does not allow is to create money out of thin air. It is sound money.

Bitcoin is created out of thin air (ducking) in many respects.  However its value is in it's platform, and the ancillary services the free market provides to support that platform.  Its value is also derived from the public's perception of Bitcoin and its value in its use as a store of value.

[GideonGono]

I'm a socialist and im very interested in the emergence of bitcoin. And I see that many libertarians, and ayn randbots are likewise intrigued.

What interests me at the moment about the bitcoin approach, is that it appears to be a 'worker owned' financial system that unites some disparate globe spanning ideologies.

economic secessionist movements is one way to move forward together into the new global age of socialism? a 1000 years of socialism, helped by bitcoin emergence?

If Socialism = freedom from banksters, centralized govt money etc then I'm a Socialist too, comrade.

[johnyj]

This "comrades" word bring some good team spirit 

[AnonymousBat]

I'm a socialist and im very interested in the emergence of bitcoin. And I see that many libertarians, and ayn randbots are likewise intrigued.

What interests me at the moment about the bitcoin approach, is that it appears to be a 'worker owned' financial system that unites some disparate globe spanning ideologies.

economic secessionist movements is one way to move forward together into the new global age of socialism? a 1000 years of socialism, helped by bitcoin emergence?

I thought socialist economies didn't have money? If everything costs $0 what do you need money for?

[ineededausername]

I'm a socialist and im very interested in the emergence of bitcoin. And I see that many libertarians, and ayn randbots are likewise intrigued.

What interests me at the moment about the bitcoin approach, is that it appears to be a 'worker owned' financial system that unites some disparate globe spanning ideologies.

economic secessionist movements is one way to move forward together into the new global age of socialism? a 1000 years of socialism, helped by bitcoin emergence?

I thought socialist economies didn't have money? If everything costs $0 what do you need money for?

The Marxist definition of socialism is the statist period before the utopian communist part.  Only after socialism is there no money.

[NghtRppr]

I'm a socialist and im very interested in the emergence of bitcoin.

What kind of socialist? A peaceful and voluntary socialist or a coercive and mandatory socialist? In other words, in your world would myself and others be free to opt out of your socialist paradigm?

[Bitcoin_Silver_Supply]

I'm a socialist and im very interested in the emergence of bitcoin.

What kind of socialist? A peaceful and voluntary socialist or a coercive and mandatory socialist? In other words, in your world would myself and others be free to opt out of your socialist paradigm?

The latter is not a socialist, though he may still think of himself as such.

[hugolp]

The latter is not a socialist, though he may still think of himself as such.

If that is the case 90+% of socialists are not socialists.

[johnyj]

Although politically people have some freedom to choose between socialism or liberalism, but economically it is always monarchism, while the central bank have the total rule

It seems a centralized management is always the final result, either it is based on force or based on intelligence. If it breaks, then efficiency will drop

[cryptobard]

The latter is not a socialist, though he may still think of himself as such.

If that is the case 90+% of socialists are not socialists.

Painful truth many choose to ignore.

[stevendobbs]

The latter is not a socialist, though he may still think of himself as such.

If that is the case 90+% of socialists are not socialists.

Many people reject socialism in error: If they could forget the soviet propaganda of what socialism is all about, and the covergent fearsome propaganda of the ultracapitalists which agreed with stalins convenient definitions - then most people would probably be intensely relaxed about socialism.

Socialism could mean state control of industry, or it could mean pushing worker owned cooperatives. The latter is a libertarian-socialist position, the former requires a really healthy democracy in order to be valid and safe.

State socialism can exist without democracy, but will be pretty damn evil. Democracy without socialism is dangerous polar opposite. And only animals that live on both poles are what? penguins and polar bears, walruses and stuff like that?

[evoorhees]

The latter is not a socialist, though he may still think of himself as such.

If that is the case 90+% of socialists are not socialists.

Many people reject socialism in error: If they could forget the soviet propaganda of what socialism is all about, and the covergent fearsome propaganda of the ultracapitalists which agreed with stalins convenient definitions - then most people would probably be intensely relaxed about socialism.

Socialism could mean state control of industry, or it could mean pushing worker owned cooperatives. The latter is a libertarian-socialist position, the former requires a really healthy democracy in order to be valid and safe.

State socialism can exist without democracy, but will be pretty damn evil. Democracy without socialism is dangerous polar opposite. And only animals that live on both poles are what? penguins and polar bears, walruses and stuff like that?

My only question is, does your definition of socialism permit an individual to own the product of his labor and that which is voluntarily traded to her?

If not, then how do you justify using force and coercion on peaceful people?

[MatthewLM]

Socialism is used to describe a broad range of ideas. I regard those that wish for redistribution of wealth to be socialists for examples, others would not.

a 1000 years of socialism

Was the Nazi reference on purpose?

[greyhawk]

Socialism is used to describe a broad range of ideas. I regard those that wish for redistribution of wealth to be socialists for examples, others would not.

a 1000 years of socialism

Was the Nazi reference on purpose?

Nazis were socialists after all, so....

[stevendobbs]

Socialism is used to describe a broad range of ideas. I regard those that wish for redistribution of wealth to be socialists for examples, others would not.

a 1000 years of socialism

Was the Nazi reference on purpose?

Nazis were socialists after all, so....

Sorry, but Adolf Hitler was certainly no Clement Atlee, who was a real socialist.

But there is convergence between conservative, libertarian political-economy and the fascist political economy - for example: class distinction is both supported and accepted by fascists and modern libertarianism alike. It is as though fascism has undergone a rebranding with the most overtly disgusting ideas filtered out. And yet, still social darwinism is well accepted by libertarians of the conservative sort thinking.