Greetings, HIVE community!
Surely, you've felt it. That pang of frustration. You made an effort, you played by the rules, you did everything right, everything you were "supposed" to do. "Save", they told you. "Be prudent". And you, with the best intentions, saved your money, the fruit of your time and effort.
But while you were doing your part, others were playing a very different game. They printed more, and more, and more money, diluting the value of what cost you so much to earn. And yes, I know it hurts to admit it, but it feels as if 'they', from their offices and their circles of power, were laughing at you. At your naivety, at your trust in a system that was supposed to protect you but seems designed to always benefit the same few.
And the worst part of all this is that feeling that they'll keep laughing forever, that the cycle will never stop. (Unless...).
Yes, there is an "Unless...". And I want us to explore what it is, because understanding it can be the first step to changing the rules of the game in our favor.
Let's Imagine a Monopoly Game Where the Banker Always Wins (Always)
To understand how they've been deceiving us, let's imagine that Monopoly game we all know.
You start with enthusiasm, you buy properties, you build. But what happens if the banker, the one you've always trusted, the one who is always smiling, decides the rules aren't for him? What if he pulls wads and wads of cash from under the table, just for himself and his friends?
Suddenly, as if by magic, your properties are worth less compared to the players close to the smiling banker. The rents you pay are higher because there's more money circulating (more hotels and houses), but not in your hands. You work twice as hard, but you advance less. The game becomes a farce. The banker and his cronies accumulate everything, while you struggle to avoid bankruptcy, collecting your miserable $200 (every time you pass GO) that no longer buys anything.
This isn't just a board game. It's the stark representation of an economic reality.
How They Laugh While They Print
The technical name for this "magic" the Monopoly banker performs is: the Cantillon Effect (When new money is created, when central banks "print," this money doesn't reach everyone equally or at the same time).
But I imagine you can already guess who's first in line, right?
The big banks, the giant corporations, those with a direct line to power (in this case, the smiling banker). They receive that fresh money and use it to buy assets (stocks, real estate, or in this case, houses and hotels) before the inflation they themselves cause hits the streets.
By the time that money reaches you, if it ever does, prices have already risen. Your effort buys less. Your savings are worth less. It's an invisible wealth transfer, a trick where those close to the printer get rich at the expense of others. This is, in essence, the mechanics behind that condescending laugh the banker shows you at all times.
"Unless...": Bitcoin and Decentralization.
This is where that "(Unless...)" from the title comes to life. Because that laughter, that feeling of powerlessness, can end. That "Unless..." has a name, and in today's financial landscape, one of its most potent manifestations is Bitcoin.
Think about it:
There's no cheating banker in Bitcoin: Its issuance is programmed and transparent. Only 21 million coins will ever exist. No one can decide to "print more" for their friends.
The rules are the same for everyone: It doesn't matter if you're a billionaire or an ordinary citizen. Bitcoin doesn't discriminate. The code is law and is visible to everyone.
It's a refuge against arbitrary devaluation: Since it can't be inflated on a whim, Bitcoin offers an alternative to protect the value of your effort in a world where traditional currencies are constantly depreciating due to political decisions.
Bitcoin isn't just a "cryptocurrency" or a speculative investment. It's a direct response to the rigged game. It's the tool that allows you to say: "No, you will no longer devalue my effort. You will no longer laugh at my work." It's choosing a different game piece on a board where you CAN understand and trust the rules.
You Decide Who Laughs Last, But...
I know what you're thinking. Is Bitcoin the solution to all problems? No, of course not, and it would be very naive to put it that way. Bitcoin carries its own problems and risks, its volatility; it requires study and responsibility.
But from my perspective, and analyzing the landscape, it represents a historic opportunity to change the dynamics of financial power. It's a declaration of principles: my time, my energy, and my future are valuable, and I will not allow them to be diluted by opaque and external decisions.
The next time you hear that "we need to print money to save the economy," remember the smiling Monopoly banker's laugh. Remember how they told you to "save," and then made your savings worth less.
You know the trick now. You know there's an "(Unless...)". The decision to explore it, to understand it, and to act accordingly, is yours. You decide if the next laugh is one of frustration or confidence.
Regarding Bitcoin as that "(Unless...)", do you consider it a viable tool to counteract these imbalances, or what doubts or questions arise for you?
What other 'rules of the game' in the current system do you feel need to be challenged or rethought?
Thank you for dedicating your time to this read. The goal is to build knowledge and perspective together. I eagerly await your comments!!
See you next time,
Pp.
I came up with a different answer... It's true that there will only be about 21 Million Bitcoins, but the trouble with that is it can be Divided into millions and millions of Fractional Bitcoins... Plus they're not Stable enough to make a good Monetary Tool... Sorry, but Bitcoin doesn't stand a chance in Hell against U.S. Crypto Coinage, which will be denominated in "Electronic" Dollars, Cents and Decimal Cents, that will be Stable and 100% backed by "Circulating" Gold Coins... It's all I ever write about...
Concerning stability, its current volatility is indeed a widely discussed topic, especially when viewed as a day-to-day monetary tool, though its potential as a longer-term store of value in adoption phase is also a key consideration.
The concept of a gold-backed 'U.S. Crypto Coinage' is an interesting idea. But, from the perspective of my post and the 'Monopoly banker' analogy, my reflections on such a system would be:
Who controls the issuance of this 'U.S. Crypto Coinage'?
Who audits and guarantees the 100% gold backing?
Who guarantees that these terms won't change in the future, as happened with the gold standard?
Would it truly be free from centralized influence, the core issue Bitcoin aims to solve through its decentralized, trustless, and finite nature?
For me, the fundamental appeal of Bitcoin is its independence from any central authority to control its supply or change its rules.
It's clear you've dedicated a lot of thought to your proposed system. It's always good to have diverse perspectives on these complex issues.
Thank you so much for dedicating your time to read this post and share your thoughts. Thanks again for your time and attention!
Pp
I love all your questions... I made a post out of my reply...
I agree with this ideal, Satoshi's dream. Certainly we take back an essential part of our lives when we manage our financial reality by decentralized (distributed) ways.
However, although I'd like to share the same hope and enthusiasm about the future, I noticed already the strategy of the elites: conquering Bitcoin (and any other relevant crypto asset) thanks to their plutocratic power.
They realized the imminent threat to their power, hence they decided to buy the coins and engage the crypto game. They cannot control the technology, but they can control the price action, according to their interests.
In the end, the powerful always win. Naturally, because it's all about power.
Thank you for this deep comment and for sharing your perspective. I understand that the ideal of 'Satoshi's dream' is perhaps just that, a dream, and isn't the solution to all our problems. However, I also think it's a significant step in the right direction. It offers many of us the opportunity to participate in the 'same game' as the 'elites,' so to speak.
That said, as in any game, those who start earlier often have an advantage, and in any system, those with more capital can often position themselves better, even in this new arena. Your observations about the strategies of established 'elites' and their plutocratic power are indeed sobering and highlight a very real dynamic.
However, I think a crucial distinction is between influencing price action and fundamentally controlling the technology or its core principles. Bitcoin's decentralized architecture, its immutable fixed supply capped at 21 million, and its permissionless nature are designed to resist the kind of ultimate control or debasement we see in traditional systems (our 'Monopoly banker' printing at will).
They can buy Bitcoin, participate in the network, but they cannot unilaterally change the protocol's rules. This, for me, is where the 'power' dynamic fundamentally shifts, even if it doesn't eliminate traditional power plays entirely. The 'game' of Bitcoin is transparent and its rules are fixed, unlike the opaque and mutable rules of the old system.
Thank you so much for dedicating your time to reading this post and sharing your perspective. Thanks again for your time and attention!
Pp
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STOPWhat a brilliant and eye-opening post! You've perfectly captured that frustrating feeling of playing by the rules while the system keeps moving the goalposts. The Monopoly analogy is spot-on - we've all felt like that struggling player watching the banker's sneaky grin.
Bitcoin absolutely seems like the most promising "Unless..." in this rigged game. The idea of transparent, predictable rules where no one gets to print themselves extra money is so refreshing. Though like you said, it's not a magic bullet - the volatility and learning curve are real challenges.
Other rules that desperately need rethinking? How about the whole concept of debt-based money creation, or the revolving door between banks and regulators. The system feels designed to keep wealth flowing upward.
Thanks for sparking this important discussion! Knowledge truly is power when it comes to taking back financial control. Looking forward to hearing others' perspectives on how we can change the game.
Feel free to read a few of my posts... I came up with a different answer...
Thanks so much for the fantastic feedback and for really getting the core message! I'm happy that the Monopoly analogy resonated.
Your points about debt-based money creation and the bank-regulator revolving door are absolutely great additions to the list of 'rules needing a serious rethink.' Those are definitely key areas that perpetuate the issues.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read the post carefully and share such thoughtful comments. Thanks again for your time and attention!
Pp.