I appreciate the balanced take.

I honestly just see politicians as those who have adopted a set of incentives that don't necessarily align with ours. Typically it plays out badly. But it is what it is. Bitcoin fixes it to a large degree.

Honestly, his action against gangs is refreshingly decisive. Imagine giving every gang member a trial as they slaughter and kill and steal with impunity. Nope. Swift death or a cell if you are part of that crowd. It was absolutely a war that could only be won that way. I'm not endorsing all of Bukele's actions, but just saying the alternative to what he did would NOT have worked whatsoever.

Important perspective on politicians:

nostr:nevent1qqsxcqdseuj8g95gmgcw5l8l8thv0y6h25k6p3myjadvalcynhskkfcpzemhxue69uhhyetvv9ujuurjd9kkzmpwdejhgq3qarkn0xxxll4llgy9qxkrncn3vc4l69s0dz8ef3zadykcwe7ax3dqxpqqqqqqz4dhpzx

Reply to this note

Please Login to reply.

Discussion

I actually do endorse the way Bukele handled the gang problem, which was really a parallel state problem, which was really an act of war to invade and take over the country and its resources.

The first step was to get the country into debt to the IMF. Second, extract resources by stealing the wealth of its citizens. Third, recruit the impoverished citizens into gangs to build a shadow state and run the country using this indirect shadow dictatorship.

Since the root problem was caused by fiat-powered wealth extraction, the root solution is Bitcoin-powered wealth retention, and Bukele recognized that. Making Bitcoin legal tender was the key to winning the war by making his enemies powerless. Imprisoning gang members and restructuring the government is just taking out the trash.

I agree to a large extent but as you say yourself they are mostly impoverished citizens now locked up. They were acting mostly out of need and organised gangs were the issue. At some point they must individually be charged or released 🤷‍♂️

Maybe with their society improving so much after the Bitcoin law, they have a real chance at rehabilitating those men and giving them their first opportunity to build stable, productive lives on a Bitcoin standard.

Haven't they already been released and sent North?

Interesting. Rule by emergency decree. We heard that before. But in this particular case understandable.

Yes, to lock up literal terrorists who enforced a living hell in the country.

They get a lot of heat because you're only supposed to lock up fake terrorists like marijuana users. Emergency decrees shouldn't be used in real emergencies. Actually fighting back is against the rules.