Bitcoin Tech Talk #418
Interesting Stuff
Why Birthrates are Falling - Governments around the world are trying to raise fertility rates, and despite some pretty enormous economic incentives, they’re failing at even keeping the fertility rate the same, let alone increasing it. Birth rates are down pretty much everywhere, and this article goes into why economic incentives don’t seem to work. In all these societies, being a mother only is embarrassing socially. Women are expected to work and their status in society shifted from one based on making a good home to one that’s based on career. The status game, in other words, has changed and that’s incentivized less babies. Sadly, this shift was one that fiat money had a giant hand in, as the doubling of the labor force was a necessary component of keeping the ponzi going.
North Korean Stability - This is one of the most interesting pieces I’ve seen on North Korea, based on the experience of a Russian who lived there as an exchange student in the 80’s and has continued studying the country since. It’s not your normal perspective on the country, typically told through governments or defectors, and for that reason it deserves a look. What struck me was that the dictatorship that’s been built there is incredibly stable, not *despite* the poverty of its people, but specifically *because* of it. Worth thinking about as the world comes into a generation that’s doing worse than their parents.
Girard Primer - Like Peter Thiel, I’m a big reader of Rene Girard and his theories of conflict settlement. I found this article written by the man himself, as a good introduction to his thinking. If you’ve ever wondered what mimesis is all about and his ideas about the “founding murder” and so on, this is a good place to start. One of the things I’ve learned from his books is that much of the world as it exists is the result of people, groups and governments imitating others. Fiat money has definitely been subject to mimetic contagion, and in many ways so has Bitcoin.
Normalized Ugliness - This is a long and epic rant about the general ugliness of everything, from the perspective of a New Yorker. The writer is surprisingly perceptive enough to see that the low interest rate environment (and the rampant money printing that goes with it) had something to do with it. The main insight for me was the fact that ugliness, and really just the poorer quality of everything in general, affects everyone, even the very rich. In that sense, fiat money debases all consumer goods along with itself.
What I'm up to
Thank God for Bitcoin - Unfortunately the videos from the TGFB conference where I spoke aren’t out yet, but this article is a summary from an attendee of the conference in Nashville. I spoke about financial holiness in that talk and the article has some thoughts on it. I will be posting the videos when they come online, though that may not be for a while.
Plan B Forum - The annual conference in Lugano commences next week! I’ll be there and giving a talk and engaging in a debate both on the first day at the WAGMI stage. If you’re around, please come and say hi and enjoy the beautiful scenery!
Rogue Food Conference - I’m going to this conference in early November to learn about regenerative farming, food quality, its connection with health and much more. Use SONG10 to get a discount if you want to attend in Dallas.
Nostr Note of the Week
What I’m Promoting
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