Well, the Olympic spectacle of excess is over, and the world returns from distraction. But here at TDV we’re never distracted, certainly not by inane white noise and shiny objects dangled in front of us. Good thing you visit us here often – for both of us.
Want to join in the discourse? Send your questions, comments, queries, and concerns to tdv@dollarvigilante.com, comment on a post, or get on the forums.
On to the feedback…
THE BIG LEBOWSKI IN THE AGE OF BITCOIN
The downfall of Mt. Gox will make some people take a step back and ponder, the rest will keep on believing they are not getting ripped off. People invest money in to a fake currency that has no physical presence and is essentially just a bank account floating around on the world wide web. People then accept that it's not backed by any government or central authority to ensure that your money can't just disappear and then they wonder how they lost their money when the crooks at the top pull a hat trick and disappear along with their money…
Yes! Invest more into the decentralized pump and dump currency so more crooks can become rich off of your investment…
– The Dude Abides
Justin's Response: Dude,
This is so ironic. Don't you realize that the entire mess in which The Dude, Jeff Lebowski, finds himself in The Big Lebowski, when his friend schemes to keep the $1 million ransom he has been tasked with delivering, could have been simply avoided with bitcoin? With a third-party escrow system, which released the funds when the blackmailed man's, also named Jeffrey Lebowski, wife was delivered, the task of delivering the ransom money would have left us with a different movie entirely, and would be waaayyy more secure for our beloved Dude: the movie could have been spent smoking joints, drinking White Russians and bowling. Much safer than delivering ransoms in the analog world. (although Venice is a police state)
Don't you think that Lebowski, who admits in the film he was part of a radical anti-war group, and was part of the Seattle Seven, might have a proclivity also towards draining the fiat system, which funds war? Ok, so maybe in 2014 Lebowski wouldn't know what bitcoin is, or at least not want to use it, but maybe he would in 2024? Heck, maybe he would have even been a Dollar Vigilante…
Bitcoin users are not getting ripped off. People who use online wallets, and don't practice secure security are getting ripped off. There is a learning curve. Yes, I understand the "world wide web" has its' problems. It is a data-gathering tool. But I think in the future technology and surveillance will continue its' arm race and solutions will abound surprisingly so for some, especially as things develop in a more decentralized manner. Anyway, your assertion that bitcoin is a pump-and-dump scheme is invalid. Please present evidence. I bet bitcoin is different. In the meantime, I will continue to embrace decentralized technologies in the cloud, like Tor.
From the clouds,
Justin
BULLETS TO BARTER?
If I used BitCoin it would be as a quick investment engine as opposed to something to conduct transactions – it is too volatile against everyday currencies, though I do like that you can use it anywhere in the world. I prefer my assets to have physical tangible value or use. If the fiat system does come crashing down, I think things like bullets, cigarettes, alcohol, seeds, and water would be far more valuable than silver, gold, or bitcoin.
Andrew C.
Jeff’s Response:
I don't disagree with everything you've laid down, other than the quick investment idea. Many people trade bitcoins and make much money. For my quick investments I generally stick to at TDV Golden Trader. I've had much success doing that. Bitcoin I see more as a long-term investment, like gold and silver, but that it is so convenient and good anywhere in the world makes it oh-so convenient. I can't help but spend it. If the system comes down and we are bartering your plan is a good one. Although, I might add, in many countries across the world you might not find such a huge demand for bullets as in the US. I think there is a chance that, if the fiat system did come down, things might not be as mad mad as you think. Of course, it is always a possibility. But, just think about how inefficient the fiat system is. I am actually curious to see things without it. I think there would be A LOT of suffering, but there is already A LOT of suffering. I love alcohol, and I love cigarettes. Though, cigarettes go bad over time. Water is difficult to store and transfer. The way I see it: I know that gold and silver can buy guns, bullets, cigarettes, alcohol and water. They always have. Having supplies for yourself and possible barter, of course, are advised.
JP MORGAN DEATHS
I wonder if the JP Morgan employee’s deaths are related to the massive silver short that Max Keiser had been talking about. What with all the precious metals folks saying how close we are to seeing the long awaited upturn in that sector. Perhaps some investigation would reveal these other alleged suicides are somehow related to short positions as well?
That would be fun, wouldn't it?
Adam H.
Wendy’s Response:
The damnable thing about the brick wall of silence JP is maintaining is that it fuels rampant speculation…of which, yours is quite reasonable. Of course, it is not just JP. I think an audit of the fed reserve is being so massively resisted because the agency most definitely does *not* want to have the results publicly known. What a house of cards! Who knows what will bring it down.
MORE JP…
I highly doubt these are all suicides… suicide and coincidence mix like oil and water.
If there is ever an investigation, how many investigators do you think will end up dead by suicide? Answer = only the ones that don't play ball with the mafia in control.
The Dude
Wendy’s Response:
The most interesting case of the ones I listed is the Gabriel Magee one. His "suicide" was widely reported by UK newspapers with only one expressing a contrary opinion. His body lay for hours and hours before the authorities hauled it away…but the cover-up was immediate. Only after the police were not able to produce so much as one witness to the declared suicide that they said was witnessed by a hoard of commuters did the police begin an active investigation. A lot more detail is available here. I keep wondering: who else from JP will we read about next? And that question is coming from someone who is very resistant to conspiracy theories.
WHEN TO SAY SOMETHING TO THOSE WHO DON’T GET IT
My sis called last night. Small talk, did you see the gold medal hockey game? No, what hockey game. You know, the Olympics. Oh, that.
She went on to comment that she was glad the nasty Russians didn't make it to the gold medal rounds. NASTY Russians? I quipped. Yeah, that Putin guy sure is something.
Sharon, what's wrong with Putin? Well, he's a COMMUNIST, look at that Ukraine thing.
I didn't get one word in edgewise trying to inform her about what's REALLY going on there, who were REALLY the bad guys, give or take, she cut me off and went on to some trivia.
What do you do?
You try to tell people you care for, fear for, and they regard you as what, a NUT?
Do you keep trying? Do you shut up and hope you're wrong? Do you shut up and hold in your heart an opportunity for a told you so moment? Do you fear that WHEN the SHTF, that you will be accused of not trying hard enough to convince, by the very same people who laughed?
Randy
Jeff’s Response:
I find the most success talking about very simple concepts with people: love and peace. An end to war, etc. Often I get told I am a dreamer, but these people are totally gone if they seriously can't conceive of a better world. Forget 'em. The others, who are curious, of which there are so many, let them be communists, let them be whatever "ism" they want. But, if they are reasonable and non-violent, just share your opinions with them and overtime they will learn to sympathize with the anarchist cause.
There is massive propaganda against Russia right now. If your sister were my sister, I might have actually seen the hockey game (cause' I love hockey), I might start by talking about the game, then that I think all politics is insane, and that while Russia has its' downfalls, so does Amerika. (or wherever with government) I would tell her I don't support violence in any form. With other more informed people I might share my thoughts about "what is really going on" in the Ukraine.
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