The next Midlands Discussion Forum will be on the subject:
''Crypto-currencies, high-tech cure all or pseudo solution to capitalism's quagmire''
It will be upstairs at 'The Rutland Arms' pub, 86 Brown Street, Sheffield, S12BS, from 2-6pm, on Saturday the 27th January, just a short walk from Sheffield central railway and bus stations. This meeting follows on from an earlier one on broader issues around automation.
All welcome.
This earlier analysis of Bitcoin is a good place to start:
http://libcom.org/library/bitcoin-finally-fair-money but digital 'currencies' have proliferated since then and our discussion will expand to look more widely at the relationship between this and the 'real' economy of a crisis ridden capitalism.
A thread on this was started
A thread on this was started on our forum.
http://en.internationalism.org/forum/1056/jk1921/14653/bitcoin
But is this really the most important question to discuss right now?
The protests in Iran, and the split in the AF, are two that come quickly to mind
Alf wrote: The protests in
Alf
Maybe these two subjects aren't quite as significant as each other?
Anyway, it is worth checking Communist Anarchism (ex-AF) every now and then for new articles and info.
Crypto-currencies (or
Crypto-currencies (or commodities if you prefer) alongside various proposed and existing 'local currencies' and proposals for 'positive money' rank alongside a variety of other 'funny money' ideas and a misplaced understanding of the role of banks and credit in modern capitalism that are rife amongst many on the left, and especially both left and right-wing libertarians, gaining ground as people look for some way out of the recent round of capitalist disasters and are certainly worthy of our discussion.
(I'm reminded of my brief comment here a while back now: https://libcom.org/forums/general/funny-money-bristol-bookfair-30042014)
I should add perhaps that a lot of the libertarian enthusiasm relates to aspects of the underlying technology related to the 'blockchain' system and it's claimed (rightly or wrongly) potential for decentralised social organisation. See here as a short starter: www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/socialist-standard/2010s/2017/no-1360-december-2017/pathfinders-rattle-blockchains
Never know, someone from the
Never know, someone from the Communist Anarchism project/group may be able to come to this meeting.
I'll probably be there.
I'll probably be there.
This meeting coming up next
This meeting coming up next Saturday. If there is a home game on that day the bar downstairs gets a bit packed beforehand but the upstairs room is kept free and you can take a drink upstairs after struggling to the bar.
bump - tomorrow now. PS:
bump - tomorrow now.
PS: another contribution to our discussion here as well-
www.leftcom.org/en/articles/2018-01-21/bitcoin-make-way-for-cryptomoney
And very enjoyable it was
And very enjoyable it was too!
With the masssive increase in
With the masssive increase in the price of bitcoin I would be interested to see the liquidity of the market. A lot of paper gains, but how much actual trading? More importantly how much actual use? I know of people buying bitcoin to make money, but none using it as an actual currency.
Yes, I regret not mining some back when it was possible, I could be rich, like all the best communists :)