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.

first one is a false dichotomy. it's a moral foundation that secures civilized society. John Adams said that liberty requires a religious (moral) people.

on the second question, a govt couldn't shut down bitcoin, and you can't get enough govts to work together on the problem. add to that that in order to shit bitcoin down, you'd have to eliminate every node and miner, oh and the entire internet.

I don't know if it will become the world reserve currency, but I do think it will become the most desirable currency.

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I agree in spirit with John Adams. I believe the character of the people matters in the utmost, far more than the specific laws and institutions.

I also agree bitcoin can't be shutdown. But the masses can't operate with bitcoin securely so the masses can be prevented from using it.

Please elaborate on the last statement.

You're saying the government can't shutdown bitcoin if they wanted to. I agree. But they can shut down any single person by showing up in squad cars. And normies can't hide their bitcoin usage, so they would be violating any anti-bitcoin order and be arrested for the violation. Therefore, if the government outlaws bitcoin (but can't shut it down) they effectively shut down most people's ability to use bitcoin. The dark anonymous people with good op sec continue to use it and can't be shutdown even in that scenario.