November 2021 - cypherpunks - lists.cpunks.org

Cryptocurrency: Socialism = Fail... Then, Now, Always
by grarpamp 26 Nov '21

26 Nov '21

https://schiffgold.com/commentaries/the-pilgrims-did-socialism-and-died-try… The Pilgrims Did Socialism And Died Trying Authored by Michael Maharrey via SchiffGold.com, When I was a kid, we used to say some things only “sound good on paper.” In other words, they seem like good plans, but there is no way they’re going to work in the real world. That’s socialism in a nutshell. The Pilgrims found this out the hard way during their first couple of years in North America. Socialism really does sound good on paper though, right? We’re all going to own everything together and take care of each other. “From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.“ It sounds so nice. And we all want to be nice, right? People are emotionally drawn to socialism because it sounds nice. It sounds fair. It sounds good. Except when people start dying. Do you know what’s not nice? Corpses. That’s exactly what happened when the Pilgrims took a stab at socialism. Most Americans don’t know that the Plymouth colony was originally an experiment in socialist utopianism and were it not for a complete 180 a couple of years in, we probably wouldn’t have enjoyed the bountiful feasts most of us will indulge in today. There would have been no Thanksgiving because there would have been nobody left to give thanks. When the Pilgrims arrived in Massachusetts on November 11, 1620, they placed all their food and provisions in a “common store.” These folks were forward thinkers. They didn’t even have Marx’s scribblings to appeal to. They set things up on the socialist principle of, “From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.” Well, things got off to a bad start. Conditions were miserable, as William Bradford described them. That which was most sad and lamentable was, that in two or three months time half of their company died, especially in January and February, being the depth of winter, and wanting houses and other comforts; being infected with the scurvy and other diseases, so as there died sometimes two or three of a day, in the aforesaid time; that of 100 and odd persons, scarce 50 remained.” Now, the Pilgrim’s initial struggles didn’t have anything to do with socialism. They just had the misfortune of landing in Massachusetts at the onset of winter. Anyway, the following fall, the Pilgrims harvested their first crops and they all went into the common store. Now, wasn’t that nice? No greed. Nobody getting any more than they should. Of course, nobody was getting much of anything at all – but still – they had to feel good about themselves, right? So, in November the ship Fortune arrived with more than 30 new settlers, mostly young men. More manpower was welcome, but according to accounts, they brought “not so much as a bisket-cake” with them. The future looked bleak as food supplies ran out and the “planned socialist” community faced starvation yet again. The following year, the harvest was poor in spite of the added manpower. Nevertheless, the pilgrims again put the meager harvest in the common store. Because, you know, it’s going to work this time! It didn’t. That winter, they starved. The colonists were learning economics the hard way. Richard Grant in The Incredible Bread Machine wrote: “For two years the Pilgrims faithfully practiced communal ownership of the means of production. And for two years nearly starved to death, rationed at times to “but a quarter of a pound of bread a day to each person.” Governor Bradford wrote that “famine must still ensue the next year also if not some way prevented.” He described how the colonists finally decided to introduce private property: [The colonists] began to think how they might raise as much corn as they could, and obtain a better crop than they had done, that they might not still thus languish in misery. [In 1623] after much debate of things, the Gov. (with the advice of the chiefest amongst them) gave way that they should set down every man for his own … and to trust themselves … so assigned to every family a parcel of land. This had very good success; for it made all hands very industrious, so as much more corn was planted than otherwise would have been by any means the Gov. or any other could use, … and gave far better content. The women now went willingly into the field, and took their little-ones with them to set corn, which before would allege weakness, and inability; whom to have compelled would have been thought great tyranny and oppression.” Reflecting on the experience of the previous two years, Bradford goes on to describe the folly of communal ownership: “The experience that was had in this common course and condition, tried sundry years, and that amongst godly and sober men, may well evince the vanity of that conceit of Platosand other ancients, applauded by some of later times; — that the taking away of property, and bringing in community into a common wealth would make them happy and flourishing; as if they were wiser than God. For this community (so far as it was) was found to breed much confusion and discontent, and retard much employment that would have been to their benefit and comfort. For the young-men that were most able and fit for labor and service did repine that they should spend their time and strength to work for other men’s wives and children, without any recompense. The strong, or man of parts, had no more indivision of victuals and cloths, than he that was weak and not able to do a quarter the other could; this was thought injustice…” Woah! Some people resented doing all the work? They didn’t work as hard when they knew they weren’t going to directly benefit? Shocking. Actually, it’s not shocking at all. It’s human nature. And we all know it. Now, we can lament the fact. We can say it shouldn’t be that way. We can finger-point and talk about greed. We can get all holier-than-thou and say we wouldn’t act that way (in other words lie). But people will still be people. Here’s a harsh truth: good intentions and feel-good policies can’t trump basic economics. You can dream unicorns and lollipops all day, but it won’t change reality. Scarcity. Human behavior. Incentives. The experience of the Pilgrims vividly demonstrates basic economic principles. Their good intentions could not overpower the cold hard realities of economic principles. They never have. They never will.

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Cryptographers are not happy with how you’re using the word “crypto”
by zeynepaydogan 26 Nov '21

26 Nov '21

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/nov/18/crypto-cryptocurrency-cr…

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Crypto-fascism into Africa
by professor rat 26 Nov '21

26 Nov '21

The warning signs are there for genocide in Ethiopia https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/nov/26/ethiopia-genocide-war… Cardano plans to build national ID blockchain system in Ethiopia https://finance.yahoo.com › news › cardano-plans-build… 20 Aug 2021 — Cardano has been assisting Ethiopia’s Ministry of Education with the goal of building a blockchain-based universal student credentialing system

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Prozac for Gramps collection drive
by professor rat 26 Nov '21

26 Nov '21

Please give generously, in this spirit, even though Gramps is criminal garbage. Donations pour in for man who served 43 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit KSL.com 3 hours ago Thousands of people have raised more than $1 million for a man who served 43 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit CNN 11 hours ago View Full Coverage

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Low-Cost Antidepressant Fluvoxamine Saves Lives of COVID-19 Patients – “Powerful Weapon Against the Virus”
by jim bell 26 Nov '21

26 Nov '21

https://scitechdaily.com/low-cost-antidepressant-fluvoxamine-saves-lives-of…

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Thai Monarchy invited to subvert itself up-the-arse
by professor rat 26 Nov '21

26 Nov '21

A push in Thailand to boost gross domestic product (GPD) by targeting crypto digital nomads is coming closer to fruition according to local media. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has been looking into launching its own utility token called TAT Coin since September as part of a planned “cryptourism” campaign. The initiative aims to attract crypto wealthy digital nomads and the TAT has been in discussions with the Stock Exchange of Thailand regarding TAT Coin’s issuance. https://cointelegraph.com/news/thai-lawmakers-urged-to-approve-tourism-cryp… Never mind all these wealthy and powerful aristocrats dotted around the world. I'm reliably informed by respected GovCorp theorists ( Like Karl Marx & Batshit Crazy ) they don't exist. Just close your eyes and go " LaLA LA LA! " real loud. That's the spirit.

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Directorates Who Discredit Truthful Witnesses (W/80 Highlights)
by professor rat 26 Nov '21

26 Nov '21

Vigorously defending potentially problematic interlocking directorates can be systematically re-purposed with the goal of protecting the innocent. . . " Like the intermarriage of Royals in the late 19th century in order to avoid war! And citing the example of Enron never gets old. Wikileaks, sorry, Enron was a poster child for innovation in Gary Hamel's 2000 book, Leading the Revolution

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Directorates Who Discredit Truthful Witnesses (W/80 Highlights)
by Gunnar Larson 26 Nov '21

26 Nov '21

“And the persons who ultimately are harmed by all of this, of course, is the average consumer, the average citizen, who has no knowledge, unless it paid attention to this hearing, of the extent of the manipulations that have been carried out by the largest financial institutions in America and, indeed, probably the world.” - Senator John McCain Highlights and working notes on the ethical limits of discrediting the truthful witness, observing modern directorates and ethics rules that fail to prevent truth distortion by unethical means (Source research by Marquette Law Review). History provides the epic example of Enron and a cunning Board of Directors of misleaders, a team of flimflam artists who used sly rhetorical skills to bamboozle the public, turning night into day. In this conception, directorates tell stories only in order to seduce and beguile regulators who fall prey to the advocate’s star-crossed tricks. Why do company Directors employ unethical, false story techniques to advance a false defense when ethical means are available? The exponential effects of this troublesome behavior requires that the firm’s every word, action and attitude be consistent with the conclusion that is dishonest. Board directors are the ultimate self policing body of an organization, responsible for setting the tone for ethical rules and standards. Not only are modern ethical rules unable to prevent directorates who use of false-story techniques, but little can be done in the way of reforming the rules themselves so that they can more effectively regulate the unethical means by which honestesty is systematically discredited and made to look untruthful. As witnessed in New York State recently, top leaders sometimes ignore ethical rules by rationalizing away conduct known to be unethical standards of professional behavior. More abstract-oriented discussions concerning whether society’s best interests are advanced with attempts to distort outcomes by discrediting the truth has even impacted virtual currency innovation out of New York. These points simply seem invented as an outrageous scenario presented to the public by way of question, yet they are indeed true. There is a pattern of routinely using an arsenal of tricks to subvert the truth. The culprit may argue that the version of events is untruthful, because of a motive to fabricate the truth. In actuality, incompetence is the only true motive to fabricate directorate supported dishonesty. Now more than ever, honest and ethical leaders know that each time a directorate uses talents and skills to pollute the marketplace with lies (either explicit or implicit) to manipulate profits is an act that initially diminishes the chances of a prosperous society. Such practice of engaging in conduct that involves dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation is impermissible and should not be tolerated. Without swift action, the public may lose confidence in both system wide innovation and maximizing the whole human potential of our species. Alternatively, employing truthful answers to string together a series of inferences that collectively weaken the case of interlocking directorates. Vigorously defending potentially problematic interlocking directorates can be systematically re-purposed with the goal of protecting the innocent. We share 80 highlights to Todd A. Berger’s (published by Marquette Law Review) “The Ethical Limits of Discrediting the Truthful Witness: How Modern Ethics Rules Fail to Prevent Truthful Witnesses from Being Discredited Through Unethical Means.” (PDF Viewer Link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XzfRqxxDD5OzQgkH1Ok2wdO25JZiqVev/view?usp=… )

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How do you know its thanksgiving?
by professor rat 26 Nov '21

26 Nov '21

Cos you get another Tryptophan-Laced Turkey of a post from Jim Dumbell. Native Americans mourn on Thanksgiving: ‘No reason to celebrate’ Fox News 3 hours ago National Day of Mourning turns Thanksgiving into something more honest CNN 5 hours ago

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Todd Lenfield needs killing ( My 20 sats )
by professor rat 26 Nov '21

26 Nov '21

"... the Commonwealth Bank of Australia’s partner Chainalysis. On Nov. 24, Chainalysis’ country manager in Australia and New Zealand Todd Lenfield told the Australian Financial Review that his firm is hoping to provide key expertise to AUSTRAC and the ATO. “We want to have conversations with AUSTRAC about what they are looking to regulate and explain to the tax office the lessons that can be learned from what the IRS is doing. We can take experience we have got in the space, and provide a local flavor,” he said. The firm currently provides blockchain analysis services for the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Revenue Service... "

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