Exploring The Connection Between Bitcoin And Benjamin Franklin: Insights Into Innovation And Finance

(MENAFN- crypto Breaking) The Emerging Adversary

The recent election cycles around the globe, and especially in the United States, have unveiled numerous “elephants in the room” showcasing hypocritical behaviors, psychological strategies that subject the working class to new manipulative tactics, and societal control masked as misinformation. The world after the Cold War transitioned from a simplistic narrative of good versus evil to an era lacking the clear adversaries that sustained the West's military-industrial-political complex . In this absence, those in power sought a new antagonist to maintain their dominance, an adversary that was conveniently pliable. Consequently, the new opponent morphed into the citizenry itself.

It's crucial to understand that this journey of exerting control over the working class started long before the Cold War concluded. The roots can be traced back to numerous self-serving initiatives aimed at reforming Western educational frameworks, ostensibly to protect“uninformed” investors from navigating financial decisions that could encroach upon Wall Street, and the pretense of safeguarding democracy, the dollar, and the market economy.

Currently, the military-industrial-political complex asserts an almost complete triumph over the 99%, a claim built upon a foundation of conflicts tracing back to the 1980s, which marked the onset of intense confrontations. This decade heralded an era of deregulation, the emergence of Wall-Street predators , and a burgeoning wave of financial engineering, often referred to as the Perestroika of currency. The 1980s stands out as a pivotal moment for Western society, emerging from the economic stagnation, political decline, and turmoil of the war-stricken 1970s. Yet, the socio-economic battles that followed were primarily designed to suppress the Plebians , affecting their access to education, wealth creation, transportation, dietary choices, employment conditions, and overall thought processes.

If one doubts the extent of societal transformation during the 1980s, consider the advent of PEOPLExpress , the pioneering low-cost airline that introduced the public to a new era of air travel without reserved seats or complimentary meals. During this era, finance became a dominant field of study for college students. Graduates were increasingly trained to dismiss traditional job roles, as the focus shifted predominantly to the movement of money from point A to point B. The food industry began its downward spiral, seen in innovations like“Olestra”, a fat substitute that not only claimed to lower calorie consumption but also came with warnings of abdominal discomfort and diarrhea. Additionally, for environmentally conscious readers, this decade marked the decline of glass bottles in favor of the Tetra Pak plastic alternative.

PEOPLExpress Source:

Among the multitude of significant shifts during the 1980s, the reforms imposed on our educational systems stand out as particularly consequential. These changes bore lasting negative effects on individuals' capacities for rational thought, tolerance, and decision-making skills. The trend of teaching “self-esteem” in schools, often without any prerequisite achievements, became pervasive. Merely attempting a task earned students 35% of their college grade, stemming from a California-originated initiative that argued boosting self-esteem would combat crime, poverty, pollution, climate change, and myriad social issues. Yet, they neglected to mention that this could help“fix the finances” or “rectify the world.” Instead of being educated in practicality and rationalness, students were encouraged to engage in self-congratulation. This shift in mindset, this alteration in social and educational paradigms during the 1980s, I argue, catalyzed the deterioration of global societal values and, consequently, financial awareness.

Over the following decades, the movements I have criticized inflicted significant harm on financial literacy and various societal standards. The repercussions of these, albeit perhaps well-meaning yet misguided initiatives, have manifested in widespread confusion as we strive to enlighten not only the youth but also adults about Bitcoin .

Is this the world we seek?

Apologies for my diatribe, but as Shakespeare aptly put it: “I rant, therefore I am.” If you're feeling down after my tirade, perhaps it's time for medication, a brief nap, or simply to muster some resilience to forge ahead.

What troubles investors and markets today? They consist of the TikTok investment generation who believe they can navigate financial decisions and seek quick profits after spending hours scrolling through an app as a substitute for the lackluster quality of university“education” in financial principles. Modern investors seem to think they are immune to historical lessons, operating under the illusion that they possess all knowledge. Somehow, insights gleaned from the past hold no sway against their five years of professional experience at a Big-4 consulting firm, following a dual degree in business and obscure art history accrued through hefty student loans totaling $200,000.

The Wall-Street-political-media complex has exacerbated the“dumbing down” of investors. This decline has occurred through scandals such as Libor manipulation, gold market collusion , and the Madoff Ponzi scandal , which have bred a deep-seated mistrust of all established financial principles, regardless of their origins or potential as educational tools. Misinformation fueled by political agendas has further worsened the situation, suggesting that inflation is“beneficial” and that recessions have been redefined.

“A fool and his money will soon part ways” was once a common wisdom. Today, however, it appears that fools profit at the expense of the rational.

To this chaotic mix of the misled and uninformed modern investor cohort, global central bank money creation since the 1980s has introduced an unprecedented flow of liquidity. Providing the TikTok investor with such liquidity, in the words of Alan Greenspan“irrational exuberance” ensues. Investors mistakenly believe they are authorities on portfolio theory, risk assessment, and investing. This oversupply of liquidity has spread through the TikTok generation like wildfire.

In essence, these“Rotten Oranges” have birthed the current irrational mindset surrounding financial management. The Dunning-Kruger effect has encouraged reckless investments in“Shitcoins” rather than sound choices like Bitcoin .

Moneyzine reports that in 2023, 25% of U.S. adults suffer from poor financial literacy, with Gen Z and Gen Y ranking the lowest among generations, at 38% and 45% respectively. Alarmingly, 48% of teenagers claim to learn about personal finance primarily from social media.

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn once stated: “Human beings are born with different capacities. If they are free, they are not equal. And if they are equal, they are not free.”

But can a value proposition, a monetary reform address such a predicament?

Could Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn have ever imagined that his insights could be relevant to our pursuit of liberation from Fiat dominance?

Can Bitcoin serve as both a great equalizer and a source of individual liberty?

It is imperative that we prioritize educating the new generation not just on Bitcoin , but also in revitalizing the financial literacy of the broader public. Practical knowledge should once again take precedence over social media acclaim. Today's modern investors must cease acquiring financial wisdom from TikTok and delve into historical contexts instead. As the intrepid Greg Foss aptly stated, it's “just math.”

The subtly persuasive Max Keiser emphasized: “We must strive to educate the masses and promote savings in Bitcoin to effectively cleanse the kleptocratic swamp that governs our financial landscape.”

Even“God's Banker” couldn't evade the repercussions of the nonsensical Fiat system, meeting his end tragically under an infamous bridge.

Lacking financial sensibility, as articulated by Benjamin Franklin in“The Way to Wealth“,

“We are taxed twice as much by our idleness, three times as much by our pride, and four times as much by our folly.”

Are you prepared to awaken to the reality that demands your attention or will you continue to bear the burden of excess taxation?

This article is contributed by Enza Coin. The views expressed are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect those of BTC Inc or Bitcoin Magazine.

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