I only partially understand the enthusiasm regarding cryptocurrency, because each thing can also be used and valued differently. To see or look for salvation in cryptocurrency is, in my opinion, exaggerated, as well as too one-sided. As has already been mentioned here, the point of decentralisation is to shift banking control to those who program the code and run the servers. This means that control and centrality still exist, just through other actors. Currencies, as long as they are under the sovereignty of a few actors, are under their control. In my view, people becoming more independent of currencies instead of more dependent is the more attractive variant, not that they slip from paper money or fiat currency dependency into cryptocurrency dependency. In my view, that would be exchanging the devil with the Beelzebub. But alternative or cryptocurrencies could probably be seen as a bridge solution, as a kind of learning field for people who have never thought about these things before. To understand that, for example, a village can accept its own currency alongside the official euro without anyone else being involved is too little known in the mainstream. There have been attempts to implement such things in the local economy, but they have always been very small and unknown activities that have not made it into mainstream knowledge.
In order to reduce the total dependence on currencies, I don't think it is possible to simply replace them with a new digital currency.
What is the difference? Whether I depend on fiat money or cryptocurrency, both require that I maintain an account and that the electricity flows. Neither makes me active or alternative in any way other than what is currently the case. But we all know at the same time, without having any knowledge at all about crypto or money transactions, that living in an externally supplied society will not change much, no matter what currency we have.
The question would be: What things can be traded without a money transfer? Where do barter transactions take place without a common currency payment? I have more questions than answers.
I agree, and you make many great points here. Thank you for offering your insights. The only thing I can offer is a parallel to Adolf Hitler. He 'centralized' power so much in a way that the rest of the world 'woke up' and 'took notice', so other nations united and agreed this type of power centralization should 'never happen again.' Because of this strong agreement between much of the globe, they have indeed maintained a certain degree of decentralization and another Hitler has not be able to sprout up.
A similar thing appears to be happening with crypto. The world's coders have woken up, noticed the banks/govts. power-centralizations, and banded together, for the most part agreeing that this type of financial centralization should 'never happen again.' Because of their passion for a certain degree of decentralization, it may play out similarly to my earlier example.
But... even if it doesn't, as you've certainly pointed out is possible, the pattern remains that all industries are going digital (books->ebooks, records->MP3s, taxis->Uber, etc.), and it seems pretty silly for cash to turn around and revert to analog now that crypto is here. So it's easy to understand the enthusiasm simply from that perspective --all power-centralization issues aside-- as far as I can tell. Either way, only time will tell. Thanks again for your comment and wishing you a great day. 🙏
Thank you.
What we live and see today is what began before our times, is, what I think. Power centralization seems to be something people at all times were very involved with and will continue to do so. Hitler was not alone, as far as my common sense has developed, I guess he hit the right people under the right circumstances, means, he met an openness to his ideas, not only in Germany but got supported through other regimes at that time. War in this dimension would be impossible, were there not also powerful other actors on the field. Before Germany was "saved" from dictatorship those foreign nations and their leaders had sympathy towards Hitler.
I think you cannot put centralization aside :) It plays always a role, in one way or the other. But I don't want to misunderstand you deliberately, So I guess, what you may mean is to live ones life and try to not copying the power game. It's very hard though to see ones owns flaws and tendencies when it comes to dominate others without noticing it.
With all that said, I am convinced there is no "one" solution and seeing it that way, like I often observe it with people, I find wrong. It's the differences, the variety in how people trade and treat each other, the differences in mental and material means which keep a sphere alive and abundant.
You too, have a good day. Sincere greetings.
Yes, you are correct. I explain power centralization in-depth in my Power & Censorship article, if you're interested.
I'm not sure if my comment above was understood clearly by you, because I most definitely was not putting centralization aside, in fact, in my Power & Censorship article I explain why it will always exist. I was saying that when centralization gets to be too much, or reaches a critical mass, as was the case with Hitler, everyone else stands up and puts a stop to it, which may happen in the financial world due to crypto, achieving a certain degree of decentralization of the United States long-held financial power.
I also never suggested there was "one" solution. I'm wondering if I'm expressing myself poorly or unclearly? Is there some misunderstanding? Have I communicated incorrectly? I apologize if so.
I totally agree. Wishing you a great day and sincere greetings as well!🙏
I was referring to your answer here:
That's why I said you cannot put it aside, really :)
When I said "one solution", I named my observations with people who do that. I didn't mean you in particular.
In your text about Bitcoin you wrote
How is it meant? It's confusing me, for it sounds that if somehow you may welcome a worlds leading currency? I stumble in almost all articles about the "world"-term which make use of it and admit that I detest it.
I think people tend to welcome union more than differences. I find that to one sided. Differences are the salt of our existence and planet Earth's.
Can you name anything which is hundred percent similar to something else? I can't. I thought long of it but I cannot pick anything which is equally alike to some thing other. Which is why it's "other". lol.
That dictatorship was hindered to continue ... I think of it as self-destructive. Those oppressions cannot last too long of a time, totalitarian and oppressive regimes destroy what they claim to fix. I heard an interesting speech about totalitarianism - which does not appear cruel and brutal but benevolent and nice. At least, with a dictator he and his buddies can be seen in full light. With totalitarian regimes it's less easy, is what was talked about in this conversation. I agree with that.
So the financial power you talk about and which you also refer in your bitcoin article is not that obvious for the average working people. I agree on that. To put an end to the current financial system does not occur to people, for they think that's without alternatives. I welcome alternatives, that's why I came here.
So far, it seems, we are having the same problems inside like outside. It's interesting to read the debates on that topic and I like the engagement people put into it. Hopefully one can take something back into his offline-life.
Greetings!
Thank you for explaining! :)
"All (blank) aside" doesn't literally mean 'put (blank) aside', it's a figure of speech that means 'regardless of' or 'despite.'
So, "all centralization issues aside" actually means... "despite centralization issues," the enthusiasm is understandable due the reasons I outlined...
The meaning is that throughout history, there has always been one currency that is 'leading.' There's always one currency that is more popular than the others. All currencies are never 'equal' across the board. There must always be a 'leader', and crypto has the potential to become such a leading currency. Time will tell.
Everything has similarites. Everything has differences. Our focus decides which aspects we focus on, commonalities or differences.
I agree, and thank you for contributing to it with your input and engagement. Wishing you a great day, greetings! 🙏