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Sorry, I don't use Primal much apart from posting podcasts but I thought I would share some of the work we are doing here trying to fix Bedford.

Beyond starting a football club and owning local businesses, I have become active in trying to fix the endless issues in the town.

We have economic issues, in that businesses are under pressure from the economic climate as well as growing government red tape. This is being compounded by a massive rise in anti-social behaviour. We have a plague of addiction issues, with large numbers of crackheads, alcoholics and shoplifters in the town. We have a rise in crime, including assaults on women.

This is not a good situation.

Two months ago I threatened the police, that if they did not fix the issue then I will. During August I am funding a private security initiative in the town, where 10 security guards will be deployed across the town as scarecrows, providing a security blanket for residents and businesses.

We have met with the local police and our activity will be coordinated with them. We are also trying to work with the local council too. I am considering establishing a shadow council in the town, outside of party politics, driving civic action.

Alongside the private security, we are building teams for cleaning, events and marketing to drive economic activity in the town.

I just thought I would share this. Bitcoin world has become a little stale to me, it is time to get out there and do things. The UK is pretty fucked at the moment so it is fight or flight time.

mike 5mo ago

Do we have a vote option on NOSTR?

Should I try to emulate Peter in Ventnor on the Isle of Wight?

Ventnor is the 20th poorest town in the UK, I have managed to orange pill around 5 local businesses and around 10 people so far, but these are all at the wealthier end of the spectrum.

I have reached out to the "Better Days Cafe" who have ignored me so far and I have been unable to connect with the local food bank / parent support charity.

I believe starting a Bitcoin circular economy as well as helping businesses in the struggling hospitality sector start strategic reserves could transform the town, but I am also aware it will be hard work and many will be hostile or suspicious about my efforts.

Also, if I stay and move full time to Ventnor I will pay a huge personal cost both in terms of financial and civil liberties.

Thoughts would be appreciated.

Thank you.

nostr:nevent1qvzqqqqqqypzpths66ep9qnl8wsaucvfvylx6jpy7xql2ea3ypf88stgjh767zerqyt8wumn8ghj7etyv4hzumn0wd68ytnvv9hxgtcppemhxue69uhkummn9ekx7mp0qqsf4jnsjywhglr0unqjzds63emkacdpj7vk4r00ffj70xcyj2fqy4qevwk7u

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Discussion

Beerborn 5mo ago

The main problem I see with introducing small circular economies into western countries is tax compliance. People won't risk getting rekt by the tax agency for using Bitcoin in their daily lives.

If you try to do this, you better set up a pro-bono accounting firm in town.

mike 5mo ago

nostr:nprofile1qyt8wumn8ghj7etyv4hzumn0wd68ytnvv9hxgtcppemhxue69uhkummn9ekx7mp0qqsd7gqv4s60d743gfv8x4z09krv6zmn6x02sswcfsrt0ymshw3pfqcap2vcl are a good solution to this.

Isn't it funny how despite being Bitcoiners a lot of us still shit ourselves about the old fiat system 😂

Beerborn 5mo ago

Is not about shitting ourselves, it's about being realistic as to how far down non-compliance road people are willing to walk.

You go there, manage to convince them, they don't do their taxes properly, they get rekt by the tax agency, you get blammed, project dies.

mike 5mo ago

Do not join. I repeat, DO NOT JOIN

But, if you want to understand how the tax system works, study Scientology 😂

Stop living in fear of the civil servants that work for you 💪

Beerborn 5mo ago

I think you misunderstand me, Mike. I'd have no problem accepting Bitcoin if I was running a business.

But I'm already a Bitcoiner, I don't need convincing on how accepting Bitcoin outweights the extra tax declaration burden/non-compliance penalty.

What I'm not so sure is that Joe from the bakery is willing to pay the price, in order to accept a money he doesn't already understand is better than the one he uses.

mike 5mo ago

I think nostr:nprofile1qy2hwumn8ghj7etyv4hzumn0wd68ytnvv9hxgqtxwaehxw309anxjmr5v4ezumn0wd68ytnhd9hx2tmwwp6kyvf4xdux6etcxse8sdrrdpjxvde4xa58qvm3xea8sct8094kkettxacxgemhw4mkgvphxsunvdryddukscfewvuryunew5ur7cnjdaskgcmpwd6r6arjw4jsqg9ap9w4v98lpp6wzm3jqqc4lw2hlg4e4w57vmye6adc8fpw3hzkzv9zawmu who literally owns several bakeries already understands that 😂

I do understand what you're saying and I appreciate you are saying things many would say, but in this respect, we are not the same and I don't think you understand what I am saying.

I have never had a single question about tax across all the businesses I have converted to Bitcoin.

That's not to say that the tax office would be sidetracked, but if the first thing you think about when trying to save a town from poverty is "What are the tax implications", then you have already failed.

Tax plays no part in saving a town from poverty, it is a background low preference admin function.

Beerborn 5mo ago

We do come from different backgrounds, and I have never been on the position to thinking about saving a town.

My humble experience with orage pilling has always come from people wanting to know if it was possible, and how it was done, to keep money away from the state's prying eyes.

mike 5mo ago

We are different and I fear your experience is more normal.

I hope not 😞

Beerborn 5mo ago

Not sure about normality, but I do tend to think I leave surrounded by NPCs. Is that normal or should I contact my psychologist?

mike 5mo ago

No, you are definitely surrounded by NPCs 😂

Beerborn 5mo ago

Phew! 😅

DryOats 5mo ago

Local food banks - I’ve often thought you could receive donations through nostr - once reached a level of say £20 exchange this for a voucher on Bitrefill for Aldi buy the required food with receipts as proof of work. I’d certainly try that but it’s getting tracktion on nostr.

mike 5mo ago

We looked with nostr:nprofile1qqstvj22wngc5t0687qvak06mt34spm3dl8pqu0ymcv7946xkmv8vpsmsrsqx to setup a Zap donation (pay forward) system and display board for the local "Better Days Cafe", it has yet to go anywhere on either side.