Friday, November 22, 2013
In case
In case you were still wondering whether Bitcoin is a government tool.......
NPR feature on "strange" bedfellows.
Despite the criminal case, bitcoin seems to be gaining legitimacy in the eyes of federal officials. There were not one but two Congressional hearings on bitcoin this week. And an official from the Justice Department said that "virtual currencies in and of themselves are not illegal, we've all recognized that innovation is important."First of all, despite always means because. In this case "despite the criminal case against SilkRoad..." means "because SilkRoad was a sting operation...." And "virtual currency is not illegal?" Tell that to Bernard von Nothaus, who is now serving time for creating his own currency. What they really mean is: "Virtual currency created by COOL people is legal. Virtual currency created by UNFASHIONABLE people is illegal." Or more likely: "Virtual currency created under our supervision to serve as a false-flag device is legal. Virtual currency created without our collaboration is illegal." ¶ 6:23 AM
