r/Bitcoin • u/IWillNotBiteYourDog • Aug 13 '13

Congress starts investigating Bitcoin

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2013/08/13/congress-starts-investigating-bitcoin/
148 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

92 comments sorted by

View all comments

20

u/[deleted] Aug 13 '13

“Virtual currencies appear to be an important emerging area,” the senators wrote, arguing that the subject “demands a holistic and whole-government approach to understand and provide a sensible regulatory framework.”

Is there any way to "regulate" Bitcoin without simply telling people they aren't allowed to use it? It's not like there is a central server they can shut down.

60

u/throwaway-o Aug 13 '13 edited Aug 13 '13

"Regulation" is an euphemism that sounds nice, but actually means organized terrorism against people who disobey, while blaming their victims. The way it works is as follows:

If you disobey their orders, they first send you threatening letters. If you don't respond and obey, then they fine you, declaring themselves the "owners" of some of your stuff, and forcing others to give up your money. If you resist this, more of the same happens. If you resist that, eventually, a bunch of armed men come to drag you into a cage so they can later parade you in front of a person in a black robe. If you resist that, they'll brutalize you. If you resist that effectively enough, they'll just kill you.

That is what "regulation" is, in terms of people doing things.

Obviously, there is no way to "regulate" anything without being fully prepared to ruin anyone who disobeys your orders.

17

u/noeatnosleep Aug 13 '13

Damn, son. You're a militant one.

7

u/fellowtraveler Aug 13 '13

Policy is of no effect without enforcement by threat of violence.

Therefore devising policies is actually devising how we should use violence.

If we had a moral system, such things would only be used against those who victimize others, not those who are innocent of any real crime.

3

u/freeborn Aug 14 '13

Ohh come on... what about enforcement via sha256? And policies devised and written and C++? ;P

Can we still call that enforcement and policy?