First, outstanding work. Some commentators might have misunderstood you as hating on Elon Musk's success rather than examining the rise and reach of the Elon Musk cult of personality, and what the likely outcomes might be.
So we have a potential billionaire savior of "free speech" who is receiving massive and largely uncritical support…
First, outstanding work. Some commentators might have misunderstood you as hating on Elon Musk's success rather than examining the rise and reach of the Elon Musk cult of personality, and what the likely outcomes might be.
So we have a potential billionaire savior of "free speech" who is receiving massive and largely uncritical support for potentially being a savior. This amounts to an open admission that our Constitutional Republic no longer exists, that the Bill of Rights has been effectively suspended, and that all the legal and institutional checks and balances we had put in place to protect liberty have been negated or otherwise rendered ineffective. Now, we depend on the "enlightened benevolence" of the billionaire class.
This does have more risks than many of Elon Musk's admirers seem willing to acknowledge. So I am grateful for your strong contrarian take on our current situation.
So you know this is coming, right? The objection or concern? You state: "Decentralized networks are the only solution to destroy the information monopolies that states refuse to regulate and prefer to collude with instead." Cool.
But you know that our alphabet agencies do have some infiltration with at least some of the people and groups working to establish and maintain these decentralized networks. To cite an earlier example, we know of Spooky spooks being involved with BitTorrent. Not saying it or torrent networks are useless or irredeemably compromised: not at all. Not saying things are hopeless, not at all. But just our government and some other governments do have some very smart people who work for them -- even if we never see these people on TV. So just a caution.
Second, and related point -- and as you did earlier for the blockchain (cryptocurrency currency) exchanges: please consider putting out a brief guide or overview for people who want to learn more. Where to get started, etc. I know from the comments that the readers of Good Citizen, and the participants in the forum, are not "dummies" -- so I am not calling for a "Dummies Guide" exactly. But for a novel (to many people) concern, a brief overview with links to resources might be highly useful.
Exactly. If a system requires a billionaire must restore basic human rights with his money, when he's feeling generous, what kind of system is that and what exactly is there to celebrate.
I did misread the room by not focusing on the core of the issue and too much on the man. I added an update at the start based on your keen observations. Thanks for your comment.
You are welcome, but le me add that was my observation based on the comment sections -- and not on your post itself. I think rather highly of the people who engage in conversations here. That's what it really is -- a forum of conversations, and not just isolated comments. Your ratio of trolls to people offering quality comments is shockingly low.
So if enough of these obviously intelligent, informed people have 'X" to say in response, I personally do not feel a need to agree with their judgment but I will certainly respect and consider what they are saying. Thank you for your follow up.
Yes, thanks. I was mostly referring to some emails I got. The Muskolytes are out there in high numbers and will reject any criticism of him, often reflexively going on the attack...in defense...of the richest man on the planet. lol
Sure the government will always try to get its tentacles into everything it can, especially the shadow govt. But it's difficult with a truly DAO structure if not impossible. They'd have to shut down the internet or power grids which I wouldn't put past them if they get desperate. I touched on crypto a couple months ago and will be doing more on this front soon.
First, outstanding work. Some commentators might have misunderstood you as hating on Elon Musk's success rather than examining the rise and reach of the Elon Musk cult of personality, and what the likely outcomes might be.
So we have a potential billionaire savior of "free speech" who is receiving massive and largely uncritical support for potentially being a savior. This amounts to an open admission that our Constitutional Republic no longer exists, that the Bill of Rights has been effectively suspended, and that all the legal and institutional checks and balances we had put in place to protect liberty have been negated or otherwise rendered ineffective. Now, we depend on the "enlightened benevolence" of the billionaire class.
This does have more risks than many of Elon Musk's admirers seem willing to acknowledge. So I am grateful for your strong contrarian take on our current situation.
So you know this is coming, right? The objection or concern? You state: "Decentralized networks are the only solution to destroy the information monopolies that states refuse to regulate and prefer to collude with instead." Cool.
But you know that our alphabet agencies do have some infiltration with at least some of the people and groups working to establish and maintain these decentralized networks. To cite an earlier example, we know of Spooky spooks being involved with BitTorrent. Not saying it or torrent networks are useless or irredeemably compromised: not at all. Not saying things are hopeless, not at all. But just our government and some other governments do have some very smart people who work for them -- even if we never see these people on TV. So just a caution.
Second, and related point -- and as you did earlier for the blockchain (cryptocurrency currency) exchanges: please consider putting out a brief guide or overview for people who want to learn more. Where to get started, etc. I know from the comments that the readers of Good Citizen, and the participants in the forum, are not "dummies" -- so I am not calling for a "Dummies Guide" exactly. But for a novel (to many people) concern, a brief overview with links to resources might be highly useful.
All best!
Exactly. If a system requires a billionaire must restore basic human rights with his money, when he's feeling generous, what kind of system is that and what exactly is there to celebrate.
I did misread the room by not focusing on the core of the issue and too much on the man. I added an update at the start based on your keen observations. Thanks for your comment.
You are welcome, but le me add that was my observation based on the comment sections -- and not on your post itself. I think rather highly of the people who engage in conversations here. That's what it really is -- a forum of conversations, and not just isolated comments. Your ratio of trolls to people offering quality comments is shockingly low.
So if enough of these obviously intelligent, informed people have 'X" to say in response, I personally do not feel a need to agree with their judgment but I will certainly respect and consider what they are saying. Thank you for your follow up.
Yes, thanks. I was mostly referring to some emails I got. The Muskolytes are out there in high numbers and will reject any criticism of him, often reflexively going on the attack...in defense...of the richest man on the planet. lol
Sure the government will always try to get its tentacles into everything it can, especially the shadow govt. But it's difficult with a truly DAO structure if not impossible. They'd have to shut down the internet or power grids which I wouldn't put past them if they get desperate. I touched on crypto a couple months ago and will be doing more on this front soon.
https://thegoodcitizen.substack.com/p/gofraudme-bitcoin-fixes-this-too?s=w