Read on Twitter
1/ I wrote previously about how I fully believe in #Bitcoin 
as a pastor here: https://twitter.com/MatHanz/status/1226008639216984066. I'm also halfway through an MSSW program @TexasSteveHicks and want to speak from the perspective of a Social Worker.
as a pastor here: https://twitter.com/MatHanz/status/1226008639216984066. I'm also halfway through an MSSW program @TexasSteveHicks and want to speak from the perspective of a Social Worker.
2/ Why this topic? SWers need to work toward financial/economic literacy. We owe it to those we serve. Some of my fav learning resources are @RealVision, @LibertyBlitz, @JeffBooth, @TFTC21, @LynAldenContact, @WTF_1971
3/ Personally, falling into the #Bitcoin rabbit hole a couple of years ago has made everyday a new opportunity to understand our current financial system & how those at the top / close to the gov $ spigot continue to benefit disproportionally from the gov's $ creation.
rabbit hole a couple of years ago has made everyday a new opportunity to understand our current financial system & how those at the top / close to the gov $ spigot continue to benefit disproportionally from the gov's $ creation.
4/ This is called the #CantillonEffect: https://www.austriancenter.com/cantillon-effect-populism/
5/ Why do assets like homes/stocks keeping going up disproportionate to wages? Why is institutional ownership of single family homes marching up too, creating permanent renters? Where does the private prison industry get all this money? FOLLOW THE MONEY! https://twitter.com/WTF_1971/status/1255906128208240648
6/ BTW the US left the gold standard in 1971 & began printing money based ONLY on a promise from the US gov. It's not backed by anything else (other than mil / law enforcement I suppose). Some interesting charts about our world since then: https://wtfhappenedin1971.com/ @WTF_1971
7/ Anyway, I'm here to recruit other Bitcoin SWers, so let's talk about all this in light of the Nat'l Assoc of SW Code of Ethics.
8/ "SW is focused on individual well-being in a social context & the well-being of society." Does a focus on 'well-being' describe our system currently? HAHAHAHA! This is why so many SWers are calling to replace capitalism w/ socialism. https://twitter.com/RudyHavenstein/status/1255564428235419651 @RudyHavenstein
9/ But the problem isn't capitalism (a system about how we allocate finite resources). The problem is that gov keeps printing $ to pay for wars, corp bailouts, etc. We DO NOT have a free mkt system. This is why stocks & the economy are so disconnected! https://twitter.com/fercany/status/894886541469679616
10/ "Fundamental to social work is ATTENTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL FORCES that create, contribute to, & address problems in living." The cost of the important things in life (healthcare, homes, edu, retirement assets, etc.) are skyrocketing, while consumer goods are deflating.
11/ Historically, the solution to high prices was high prices. The mkt would cool off/find equilibrium by having to compete for scarce dollars. This is no longer true. Dollars are never scarce b/c the gov has been on a printing spree since bailing out corporations a decade ago.
12/ SWers strive to end "social injustice... [& to] ...pursue social change, particularly with and on behalf of vulnerable/oppressed individuals/groups." As @libertyblitz has written at https://libertyblitzkrieg.com/2020/02/18/financial-feudalism/ we are increasingly a FEUDAL system, with fewer owners & more serfs.
13/ "Social workers respect the inherent dignity & worth of the person." Devaluing my labor (stored in $) through flooding the world with newly printed $ (given first to those at the top of the food chain) is an AFFRONT to every person's inherent dignity and worth. Full stop.
14/ A response would be that I should have used my $ to buy assets. Really?! Like, buy the stocks hyperinflated b/c companies get free/low interest $ from the gov & then use it for stock buy backs instead of improving workers' lives or increasing production? Please.
15/ Furthermore, this sytem requires that I exchange my $ for risky assets, lest my account shrink in value with every new dollar printed (i.e., a passive taxation scheme). What if I can't or don't have time to learn how to navigate complex financial contexts?
16/ Too bad, so sad for me b/c I'm busy, say, rearing decent children. https://twitter.com/MatHanz/status/1230132413310918657
17/ I deserve to store the value of my labor in an asset that can't be weaponized against me through cronyism, politics, share dilution. #Bitcoin 's issuance schedule is known, predictable, and immutable. A #Bitcoin can't be double-spent or counterfeited. 1 BTC = 1 BTC, always
's issuance schedule is known, predictable, and immutable. A #Bitcoin can't be double-spent or counterfeited. 1 BTC = 1 BTC, always
18/ Thus far, the above could be seen as a general appeal for a sound money / gold standard. SWers should support this too, but #Bitcoin offers benefits that gold doesn't. #Bitcoin is global decentralized freedom tech. @gladstein has some good stuff on this. Other thoughts:
offers benefits that gold doesn't. #Bitcoin is global decentralized freedom tech. @gladstein has some good stuff on this. Other thoughts:
19/ "SWers promote socially responsible self-determination." SWers give "...particular attention to the empowerment of people..." #Bitcoin = empowerment tech. It allows a person to be their own bank, to validate their own money, to covertly carry it with them across borders, etc
= empowerment tech. It allows a person to be their own bank, to validate their own money, to covertly carry it with them across borders, etc
20/ Imagine how difficult it is to flee dangerous situations (domestic abuse, oppressive regimes, etc.) with any assets. #BitcoinFixesThis - With #Bitcoin a person can move their physical $ -> #Bitcoin & then retrieve it anywhere in the world w/ a memorized password!
a person can move their physical $ -> #Bitcoin & then retrieve it anywhere in the world w/ a memorized password!
21/ With #Bitcoin you can send money to anyone, anywhere in the world. No mailing or using Western Union. Send them money, wait a couple of minutes for it to be verified on the #Bitcoin public ledger, and it's theirs. No backsies. Unstoppable. Go buy food, etc.
you can send money to anyone, anywhere in the world. No mailing or using Western Union. Send them money, wait a couple of minutes for it to be verified on the #Bitcoin public ledger, and it's theirs. No backsies. Unstoppable. Go buy food, etc.
22/ A few important caveats:
First, "Social workers should be alert to and avoid conflicts of interest that interfere with the exercise of professional discretion and impartial judgment." I believe all this so much that I own some #Bitcoin & continue to buy a little each month.
First, "Social workers should be alert to and avoid conflicts of interest that interfere with the exercise of professional discretion and impartial judgment." I believe all this so much that I own some #Bitcoin
& continue to buy a little each month.
23/ I stand to benefit as individuals and institutions continue to get onboard and price begins to catch up to intrinsic value. What's the intrinsic value of decentralized global freedom empowerment tech? What's the right price for a "truth machine" like #Bitcoin ?
?
24/ Second, I personally know a person who was scammed out of thousands of dollars when he was convinced to feed money into a #Bitcoin ATM to resolve a supposed identity theft issue. There is still risk with this decentralized global freedom empowerment tech!
ATM to resolve a supposed identity theft issue. There is still risk with this decentralized global freedom empowerment tech!
25/ I hope other #SocialWork professionals can join me to explore the potential of #Bitcoin for solving micro, mezzo, and macro problems. #FixTheMoneyFixTheWorld! Comment below or DM me and let's get to work!
for solving micro, mezzo, and macro problems. #FixTheMoneyFixTheWorld! Comment below or DM me and let's get to work!
