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Comment by UncleSlacky | Hacker News Reader

Money, particularly fiat currency, is a useful fiction. You're not a slave of money as such, it's a tool of enslavement by those who control how much money is allowed to exist and how much is allowed to circulate. As Iain M. Banks put it, "Money is a sign of poverty".

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The act of enslavement is in fact a two way street. You have to choose to want whatever you can buy with money in order to be enslaved. It's a choice most people just don't know they are making. For many, it's also a choice that makes sense if they want to survive. Money lets you buy food, clothes, and shelter. Making a choice to be enslaved for those is clear(but still a choice). Making a choice to be enslaved beyond that is not as clear.

Eat or starve isn't much of a choice, though.

"The act of enslavement is in fact a two way street. Enslaved Africans had to choose to not want to be whipped and beaten by their slavemaster for attempting to run away"

When the alternative is not something a reasonable person would choose, it's common courtesy to not pretend it's an actual choice.

Fiat currency isn't even necessary. Fiduciary money is sufficient.

Eg a classic gold standard, fractional reserve banking and private note issue. Like they had in Canada or Scotland.

Wish I.M.B. was still with us...

I was wondering how long it would take till someone started alluring cryptocurrencies. Nice one.

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