Nostr is the Church of Bitcoin. And as a bitcoin unbeliever, I'd like to probe the understandings and beliefs of those who are really into bitcoin.

These false dichotomy questions are meant to spur discussion, of course I don't think anyone can simply choose one over the other, but I wonder what people are thinking.

Which of the following is true:

1. If government went away, the people would be free of the oppression of taxes, all interactions would be voluntary, and anarcho-capitalism can finally bring in a utopia.

2. if government went away, the infrastructure would erode (roads, the internet, power distribution, sewage, etc) and people would be living in fear of violent gangs that would have bloody and terrible battles for power.

Which of the following is true:

1. Bitcoin will grow to the point of being the world currency, at which point government won't have any reliable way to collect taxes and government will shrink away.

2. Bitcoin won't get much larger than it already is today because if it gets much bigger governments will shut it down, seeing it as an existential threat.

I could ask more but I think you get the point.

My belief is that small governments are good and necessary things, and governments will not allow themselves to lose revenue in any significant amount, so bitcoin can't grow much larger unless it embraces KYC (which the Church of Bitcoin clearly doesn't). And therefore IMHO there is no bitcoin endgame other than where we currently are. I believe we are living in an abnormal period of laxity.

I"m about to run off and I won't see the replies to this for hours, so don't expect me to participate in the discussion right away.

BTW: I am libertarian, I believe in free markets, I like power in the hands of the people, I hate the fact that governments are necessary, and I love free speech. But also I think I'm pragmatic and realistic.

- Small, focused government is good.

- Small, focused government is impossible with the power to print.

- Small, focused government is only possible with non-debaseable money.

I reject the false dichotomy all together.

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Discussion

Institutions can be established. I like DOGE. Imagine if DOGE was in the constitution and had real teeth, forcing strict limits on all aspects of the government. Without something like that, government is hard to constrain.

American government is pretty well constrained compared to other western nations because of the American spirit of right-wing Americans. But you and I may not think it is constrained nearly enough.

I"m not sure non-debasable money prevents governments from becoming bohemeth parasites. Imagine gold was in use. Government can still tax at 65%, and physically take your gold at gunpoint.

honest question, not snark 😀 do you know of a government that leaned towards bohemeth for any significant amount of time without fiat?

I can think of some examples that I would consider fleating like wartime or external plunder/colonization. But I can't really think of an empire that didn't maintained power outside of those temporary(?) scenarios that didn't rely on fiat debasement... I suppose even fiat has always been temporary... might be arguing myself in circles ha