This is an opinion piece by Mickey Koss, a West Point graduate with a degree in economics. He spent four years in the infantry before moving to the Finance Corps.
Whether the patriot act, COVID-19 measures or the proposal law of restrictionit seems the only thing American politicians agree on is that taking away freedoms is essential. It’s for your own safety, you see. And we can’t forget safety either. Who wouldn’t want to be safe?
The unilateral agreement around these measures has made the term “bipartisan” a red flag to me, and I am increasingly concerned about the direction we are headed.
Bread, circuses and conflicts
I was recently criticized on NOSTR for covering up environmental Bitcoiners, with the rationale being that the environmental movement is a net negative for society. While I understand where this person who criticized me is coming from, I believe there are deeper concerns hidden behind their comments.
After reflection, I came to a realization: people are not really concerned with the environmental movement. In fact, people are not concerned with politics at all. Most political disagreements are superficial proxy wars for a much deeper argument: the control argument.
Who will have control? What are they going to use it for? How will this affect my life?
As governments grow at an increasing rate, the fear of who is in control grows with it. I think that’s the root of the polarization we see today. The real concern is with central planners and central planning. Everything else is a distraction. I think this is the real psyop.
Bitcoin Defunds Central Planners
As more people embrace bitcoin as a savings vehicle, we can begin to grow the shadow economy and take the exorbitant privilege of money printing out of the hands of those who would seek to abuse it.
By doing so, we can slowly but surely defund the central planners that so many fear. By doing so, we can reduce the level of control that keeps us up at night. By doing so, we can reduce the political polarization that seems to be tearing the country apart.
I think too many people get the fight wrong and miss the forest for the trees. If Bitcoin is truly incorruptible, then why do you care who chooses to back it? Why not give everyone a chance to have their ego and preconceptions about the world completely shattered by this permissionless monetary protocol.
Bitcoin is for everyone. We cannot allow the culture wars to manipulate us into friendly fire. We cannot allow political narratives to co-opt Bitcoin into a weapon that politicians can use against us. It doesn’t matter if you win your little skirmish if the war engulfs you soon after.
The sooner we can get adoption, the sooner we can make all these little arguments pointless. Once central planners lose their ability to control, your neighbors’ vote becomes less of a concern. Without the ability to print money, governments suddenly have to think about trade-offs again. The reintroduction of a sound monetary standard corrects the political polarization.
This is a guest post by Mickey Koss. The opinions expressed are entirely their own and do not necessarily reflect those of BTC Inc or Bitcoin Magazine.