> > Craig, it's not clear to me what it is about the proposed Virtual > Currency (VC) system that you are uncomfortable with. I think it would > be more productive if you could give me specific details. What is it > that you don't like? Expressing (quite eloquently I might add) that > the Virtual Currency system does not appear to be "moral", that it's > "a-moral", does very little to get to the heart of what it is that you > believe might be unworkable, or perhaps detrimental to society.
Can I opt out? If I didn't want to use the virtual currency, but instead chose to trade gold for services rendered, with other people who wanted to opt out, could we? If so, then I misunderstood the system, and there is no violence associated with it. If, on the other hand, people are not allowed to opt out, and instead are threatened with being put into a cage and with theft should they try, then that's the violence and threats that trouble me. > Without giving any specifics you nevertheless seem to have implied > that the Virtual Currency steals money through force, from one person, > to solve (social) problems. You have further implied that they system > is "simply predation." Those are strong criticisms. Could you please > clarify in what way the Virtual Currency system "steals" money, and > while we are on the subject of "stealing" exactly whom is VC stealing > money from? Any time you create money, you devalue all the other money in circulation by some degree. But this isn't an issue for me if I can opt out. [...] > ... Money needs to start working more directly for the welfare of all > individuals working within the economic system, instead of having > everyone desperately working for the continued health and welfare of > money itself. It is not possible for any type of program to improve the welfare of all individuals, unless those individuals freely agreed to join the program. The best thing that a program intended for society can do, is improve the welfare of some people at the expense of others. All individuals have individual values. I value my family, my friends, my house and car, and my plans for the future, more than I value your family, friends, material items, and plans. So only I know how to best pursue my values. If I choose not to participate in a program, then it's because I don't believe that such a program will help me pursue my values. What is good for you, is not necessarily good for me. I can't think of any government program which does not threaten those who disagree and choose to opt out, with violence and theft. If you don't pay your taxes, men with guns will come to your house. It may take a while, but that is the inevitable outcome for those who try to opt out. If we were taxed at 100% of our income, would that be different than slavery? So what are we when we are taxed at 50% of our income? Craig
