On Lincoln
----------------

Lincoln wasn't a good president. He wasn't even a mediocre president. He was a terrible president. He suspended individual rights. He massively expanded the government through money printing. He led millions of people to their deaths. All for power.

What we learn in school is that he was the great emancipator, ending slavery and winning a war that had to be won. That he was some man of genius and virtue, thrust upon the national stage at the right time to progress history.

Such is the result of the history being written by the winners. Similar hagiographies have been written about FDR and even Woodrow Wilson. But like the news, much of history is spun to manipulate us. Most of conventional history is fake and even a cursory study of what actually happened is enough to make you question how virtuous they were, and why they made the decisions they did. Almost always, you find that they were opportunistic cowards that did what would cost them least, even at the expense of the people they affected.

History is a tricky topic because the counterfactuals are always very speculative. But what we can judge is the values played out in actions taken, and in that sense, Lincoln was pretty terrible. He suspended habeas corpus, he cheated in border state elections to keep them in the union, and he massively, massively expanded the scope, power and size of government through inflationary theft.

It's hard to imagine what things were like before Lincoln, because before him, was a string of single-term Jacksonian, hard-money Democrat presidents. This was back when liberal meant being for personal liberty and that era of government before 1860 was insanely small, about 2% of the GDP. He would oversee an unprecedented expansion which would take the government to 20%.

Much of it, was, of course, because of the Civil War, and the popular narrative is that he needed to wage that war to end slavery. And yes, the issue was a major one in that era, but the elimination of slavery was more of a lucky by-product than an aim. His main goal, as he stated over and over again and as acted out in his policies, was to preserve the union, not to end slavery.

In preserving the union, he destroyed the idea that states had the right of secession, he weakened the idea of natural rights and he stole through inflation and sent many to their deaths. The centralizing of the federal government, the behemoth that we live with today began during his heyday.

The main thing that preserved his legacy was his assassination. Had a couple of battles gone the wrong way in 1863 and 1864, he wouldn't have been re-elected and he would have disappeared into the annals of history as a political amateur that lucked into the presidency in 1860 and screwed things up for 4 years. Instead, he was re-elected, assassinated and the horrific legacy of reconstruction was blamed on others. In short, he died at the right time.

There are those, of course, that will argue that Lincoln would have done things differently, and that he would have been more merciful to the south and rebuilt things as to spare them the suffering. But that's inconsistent with everything he did. Like most politicians he was a power grabber and he did what was politically expedient and not what was virtuous or right. He suspended habeas corpus (needing a reason to arrest and detain people)! He made generals do what would make him look good so he would get elected, not what would save the most lives or win the war the quickest. He created the greenback, which was a form of money printing to finance the war. And he spent an insane sum of other peoples' money through implicit and explicit taxes to "preserve the union."

Ending slavery, of course, was a big deal and in the annals of history, it's a dark mark in the history of the US that the institution survived so long. And yes, the Civil War did end it, but that wasn't the objective of the war itself.

Being Republican, he had a large Radical wing that he had to deal with and they wanted abolition, and later full voting rights for blacks. Because the south had seceded, they had the votes to pass the constitutional amendments, though only toward the end of the war when it was clear the north would win. That was a political expediency that ended up defining his legacy. But really, it's his biographers and historians of the winning side that have spun him to be a hero, when he was anything but.

The big flaw of Lincoln is that he created an unnecessary war that cost millions of lives and billions of dollars, one that set back the US by decades. Letting the south secede and revoking the Fugitive Slave Act would have ended the institution just as well, for much less cost. And this isn't idle speculation. Brazil had the second largest slave population in the 19th century that was whittled down quickly because the slaves had northern provinces where they could escape. The price of slaves dropped dramatically and soon, the institution itself was destroyed through economic means, not martial ones.

What's worse about Lincoln's legacy is that he set a precedent for federal power that brought forth the progressive era and eventually to Woodrow Wilson and FDR. The centralization of federal power began with him.

Lincoln wasn't a good president. But the history is written by the winners and they have made a secular saint out of him.


This get went on Dr Paul Salidinos podcast. Great stuff

#animalbased
#bitcoin nostr:note1mq8sk2lxxhm9fwyshzfskneq0cspscfd8grqkvzfaxzphkwdhehq0d70kx


It’s always the suits that ruin good things


Sausage and olives is the best pizza. I’ll die on this hill


Many bitcoiners think establishment powers are now in the "and then they join you" phase of the struggle.

I don't. I think they're more entering the earlier "and then they fight you" phase.

Or more specifically, they are happy to join in on the price exposure side (i.e. ETFs), but they are fighting against privacy (especially) and self-custody (to some extent). The struggle for financial privacy, custody, and overall self-autonomy is just heating up.

The gradual shift of critics from "bitcoin is a useless speculative asset with no intrinsic value" to "bitcoin is so powerful that direct usage of it must be curtailed" can be dangerous.

https://m.primal.net/HXks.png


Love this.

https://media.gleasonator.com/d917e0cd28114cd6ffd9e04fa0915b87fa8de4541ab968325f38f3d2cd785b7f.mp4


I stopped using @cashapp because of the fees. @strike has no fees if you use a bank account. Only issue is KYC, but in the US it’s rather difficult to avoid that 🤷♂


#buythedip
#bitcoin


It’s truly frustrating. A free society MUST maintain the same standards for EVERYONE otherwise it’s just tyranny


It’s dumb AF but in a good way. Some ganja pairs nicely


Great movie by the way. The scene with Terry Crews dancing at the club gets be every time


Take a fucking guess


Truth

#optout
#bitcoin nostr:note1jeaeky269e824x68dzpxc7nrvjqd57ev2fwwh0xnr6wa33fmm76sh86nmq


Meanwhile on xitter, the European Central Bank gets schooled on #Bitcoin and characteristics of money.
https://image.nostr.build/2c6749fdc1df89e3132c5b740dd3a0e4d74e8a516a73bdb0d197c160d3fcce55.jpg


We all know paper hand normies will gladly give up their custodian held #bitcoin to Blackrock the second they can make a fat gain.

The education needs to start early and stay consistent, greed is a powerful emotion


new BlackRock bitcoin ETF influencer campaign videos just dropped, and they go HARD

https://v.nostr.build/aM6q.mp4


For now…


Is it ever enough?


Certainly! But I desire taking my #bitcoin journey to the next level, earning #bitcoin instead of trading fiat

#bitcoinmindset


the amount of shilling regarding climate crisis in uni is pretty wild

and everybody just nods and accepts it as facts, with no skepticism

rough times ahead


Geisha is a type coffee tree that produces super high quality coffee beans. Sweeter, more fruity flavors.

These are less common and more expensive, but totally worth it


I’d disagree, 2 weeks post roast I find to be the sweet spot. But that’s just me


Colombian coffees are some of my faves

Try to find a geisha, those are spectacular


Great words nostr:npub16as8gepztj9tvyx6n9y4h3cv3gaytgpl3g32jhcxlj6mcss72uaqjwg2tf I might need to take a step back and evaluate more broadly before I focus


What skills should I develop to help the #bitcoin ecosystem?


Good evening Nostr. https://image.nostr.build/103060137a4294e852f07b3a5f8d85774b19b6176bda6911bc9da7653289b5ff.jpg


The problem is the company he built, which utilizes regulatory capture to suppress individuals.

Zuck is whatever, to me just another billionaire trying to seem cool


Best way to live is to do the opposite of government “recommendations”


You should really be eating lucky charms, way healthier than *checks notes* the animals we have been eating forever


The ETFs were approved but we’re waiting for 6 confirmations before celebrating.


#etf #sec #gary https://image.nostr.build/1980621c5d968b769702e3af3283f8067f4c8d776ec4ac586d65d6983f792ee9.jpg


Car culture destroyed American cities. Go look up the bicycle infantry.

Before Ford lobbied to government to build car infrastructure, we were on our way to human centered cities


“urban renewal” was just planned destruction of American cities. https://image.nostr.build/2a8782ed7ed79d1ab0cbd5343eca2ee0f7f2bf789ac57214a050b387542fcec1.jpg


You think the SEC or any government account has adequate security? I’m surprised this didn’t happen sooner lol


Can this guy provide and update? I want to know if I should buy #bitcoin now


How does this manifest? So I can be annoyed too


Stay ready
https://image.nostr.build/eb7eb2e5774d9658d1c0e0fc90415011924bc19e8ede9265e8c80d49e1741e85.jpg


gm NOSTR 🌄 What happens when the government solution to a problem is WORSE than the problem?

Time to learn about the "Cobra Effect" 🐍⬇

https://video.nostr.build/14b54a0b754201b23ef3845072e42573e38368fdf0c476f43fc657386e9e77ca.mp4


🧡💜 #books  #bitcoin ⚡ #nostr 💜🧡 https://image.nostr.build/6a725d1c84042899ee6369fca67c723336355b4fe94dc89ab32c52719e40d90c.jpg


Current markets: 🧡 https://video.nostr.build/e0e4456b7c2d1cb02afb5e50bce179026eef735a13a33a473b276f4f1cf54283.mp4


Tax reporting is huge, for individuals and businesses.

As I mentioned, I don’t have any businesses I frequent that would even consider accepting #bitcoin as much as I wish they would. In the past year, I saw ONE business at a farmer’s market with a sign that said they accepted #bitcoin

It’s possible the area I live in just doesn’t care, which is odd given the amount of tech and innovative companies, you think there would be more forward thinking people 🤷♂


Big Tech companies, including Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta, and Microsoft, received fines totaling $3.04 billion in 2023 for breaking laws. However, as of the first week of 2024, these companies had already earned enough revenue to pay off all the fines. This shows that the fines are insignificant for companies with large revenues, and they view them as merely the cost of doing business.

https://proton.me/blog/big-tech-2023-fines-vs-revenue


#BitcoinETF =/= #Bitcoin

https://m.primal.net/HXAT.jpg


Why all my DMs look like this?? Is it a relay thing?

nostr:npub1xtscya34g58tk0z605fvr788k263gsu6cy9x0mhnm87echrgufzsevkk5s

#noob https://image.nostr.build/5c577301074e291b5cc80736418cc64e809470a46221fb134e545a84098093f1.jpg


This is awesome! But like others, I have a lot of question, and need to make a lot of assumptions about your personal life.

Do you do you own taxes? What businesses are accepting #bitcoin that to you consume at on a regular basis? Do you pay your rent/mortgage with sats? I could go on.

The US is unfriendly to bitcoin payments without a lot of work. Most of us work jobs that suck up a lot of our energy and stacking makes more sense right now due to the hurdles. I don’t have a single business I shop at that accepts our favorite coin and the additional work needed to find trustworthy places to give my sats up for is too much effort right now. I’d rather stack for the future, and use my sats when I either, move to a country without cap gains, or the US pulls its head out of its ass (unlikely).

nostr:npub1ex7mdykw786qxvmtuls208uyxmn0hse95rfwsarvfde5yg6wy7jq6qvyt9  is a great app that I use, but to truly build a fully bitcoin economy we need ease of use, that hasn’t arrived yet. Depending on the answers to my questions and others, your life may have more convenience than a lot of people.

Mad respect from me for committing and thank you for being one of the pioneers a lot of want to be, but not everyone can right now, myself included.

With all that said, the future looks bright.


just finished watching whisper of the heart

what a wonderful movie, the whole aesthetic of it is right up my alley


IMO bitcoin etfs are the antithesis to what bitcoin is all about. It’s just going to be rehypothicated IOUs that no one will be able to redeem


nostr:npub1grk0tx6kqzvp86jvxzqmr8va2f0hdklj2xj6qwymf04z0saxhx8svlelrn 🔥 memes today 🙏


I can’t get zaps working (also iOS)🥲


Totalitarian states are facilitated by forcing the people to rat their fellow citizens out. Soon children in public schools will be taught to not trust their friends and families, and provide all details about their private lives to the State. All for the sake of the common good.

American hasn’t been a free nation since 1913.

#bitcoin and #privacy are needs more than ever


I’m getting blasted with DMs and all they say is *failed to decrypt content*

What did I do!?


Dont forget Lyn Alden


Best love show I seen yet


Financial independence isn the traditional sense means, you can transact whenever, with whomever, for however much without interference.

The FIRE movement has changed this definition over the years.

Both worth striving for.

#bitcoin is relevant to both definitions


Interviewing with them at the moment. What’s the history? Did I miss something in my research?


These people think in quarters not decades


As an America millennial I love the essence of my country, but hate what its becoming


I think I’m going to start using #fiatmindset and #bitcoin mindset where I can.

Example: I decide to patch my clothes instead of buying new clothes. #bitcoinmindset

My friends says to just buy new clothes, they are cheap! #fiatmindset


It’s already being rolled out, democracy is failing


It’s got a lot of functionality without feeling overwhelming


Sure is! Regularly on sale too


Nier Autamata


Easy peasy


Steamboat Willie hit public domain today

#fuckdisney


Ok almost everyone is already in 2024, lets continuing defunding the state... I exit 💪
https://video.nostr.build/9d0b69715f6074e875154252d02e370777d728b47101d1574142ea38d6c12247.mp4


Strive to be an uncarved block


Former twitter addicts coming to #nostr seek “engagement”. I don’t blame them. That’s the currency of twitter. The quality of your posts are judged by the likes, retweets, etc.

The problem is that this value measurement is highly distorted by algorithms. Algorithms determine how many people see your tweet. The tweets that are likely to get engagement are opinionated and potentially outrage-inducing.

Nostr has likes and reposts, but the key value metric is zaps. I’m unlikely to zap a post that makes me upset or is polarizing. I’m more likely to zap posts that are positive, helpful or useful. My hope is that this incentivizes more positive, helpful and useful posts. There may be less “engagement” but who cares about engagement when you’re receiving the purest form of value that there is?

I know zaps started as a fun feature from nostr:npub1xtscya34g58tk0z605fvr788k263gsu6cy9x0mhnm87echrgufzsevkk5s. At first, some viewed them as frivolous. But I think they are the key to a well-functioning social network. Make more of what you want to see. If you can’t make it, zap it. Incentivize others.


1 #bitcoin = 1 #bitcoin


#newyearsresolution


I’m slow to adopt things. What other great #nostr projects should I be aware of or using?

#bitcoin


None come to mind


Techo feudalism has already begun


Both feared by any establishment. Seems almost uncanny


Was the UX just now there?


What is missing?


Acts 17:24

Churches are often places for parasites to thrive


One baby at a time


Too bad most people in leadership positions today, don’t have children


Jesus understood Buddha nature


Traveling is good for the soul


Next block


https://video.nostr.build/0dc4644d0da5f75b932b44c02feef7e579a1d3928ba5d5df14064e65331a0d6f.mp4#m=video%2Fmp4&dim=544x960&blurhash=%5DnM6n-t6WCxaRjxse%3AWVn%25bb%7D%3Fs8V%40R%2Bofs%3BW%3DogWVjZ%3D%7BWXWVaeWXRQNFj%3FoMofofNHbHa%7DjZR%2Bt6oeWCoLI%3ARjayayj%5B&x=4cdd568d0d2a2d1bc6686f7d84d68cb985c7b0a739ec848b209bdeda7fe0ae7a

Ho Ho HODL. Santa Libby is here, have you been naughty all year?

I have a bag full of beetcoin gifts, curious to discover of what they consist?

Panties, wallets and rings, but none of these fiat things.

From Santa Libby with a digital wink, giving you a Beetcoin link.

In this festive season let’s share hope, joy and the keys to cryptographic freedom.

Don’t fret about the price dear ones, it’s the thought of love that truly counts.

So whether you have been naughty or been nice,
your reward awaits in the 10-minute block heights.

Until then, keep hodling, keep beaming, while beetcoin bells keep chiming.

Wishing you a joyful Bitmas, may the magic internet money bring your life happiness.

What's in my bag? Find out here and win presents https://loveisbitcoin.com/christmas


Anyone used a PinePhone?

#asknostr


Musk is a military contractor what did you expect? The everything app was always about surveillance


Get ready for a global cyber attack before 2025, courtesy of our friends at the WEF

#bitcoin


Rest up!


"We have no intention, however, of making a fetish of democracy.  It may well be true that our generation talks and thinks too much of democracy and too little of the values which it serves"

                 F.A. Hayek

"Liberty is not a means to a higher political end.  It is itself the highest political end"

                 Lord Acton


When will Costco start selling #bitcoin ? I want that sweet wholesale price


What about a trade?


What about a WAstr 👉🥺👈


Mathew 7:1

Asshat


Not a computer scientist but I basically read this as a “temporary suspension of the gold standard” with extra steps. But what do I know


Not all heroes wear capes


Damn fine cup of coffee


Zuck can get Fucked


Does your service include baseboard heating?

#nocentralair


Thank YOU for such a great app!


Why not both?


Prove it


Privacy must go beyond the digital, friend


they are distracting you from this https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2023/12/section-702-needs-reform-and-oversight-not-expansion-congress-should-oppose-hpsci


The US only cosplays as a free state


Taxes are stollen wages for politicians to gamble with

#changemymind
#bitcoin


Generative AI will end up ushering in new ways to deliver ads. They will be so good you won’t know you’re being sold too.


Oh he started an onlyfans


I dropped GTA after 4, tried 5 but couldn’t get into it


Muh vidya gams r supoose be toxic no gurls alowd


Here’s to 69 more 🥂


Carnitas por vida


Zapped 🙏⚡


Truly amazing 🙏


How do I get laser eyes in my profile pic?? 🫣

#latetotheparty
#noob
#bitcoin
#lasereyes


Don’t trust Musk. His companies are defense contractors. He said what he believes will win him brownie points, nothing else


They will drop all notion AI should benefit humanity 🥰


OpenAI will go in the opposite direction of bettering humanity when they restructure their board.

#optout
#bitcoin


How are we making our coffee this fine morning?? 🤔☕


And we appreciate you fighting the good fight 🙏


Have department stores become zombies?? 🤔


Looks like it might be fixed, possible user error. I’ll DM you if the problem persists 🙏

Organge pilling the wifey 🥰


Musk is a defense contractor who want to be the first data baron with X. He desperately wants to copy the CCPs WeChat, which isn’t a good no matter how you spin it


Is @strike having issues verifying IDs in Colombia? nostr:npub1cn4t4cd78nm900qc2hhqte5aa8c9njm6qkfzw95tszufwcwtcnsq7g3vle


Everyone is far right if they say anything right of left


I want to break free, North Korea edition 😂
https://video.nostr.build/14208577bb6430c0d95a86a3090f709c7c5a6edfea695222ba95c2bf910906aa.mp4


She should be on #nostr


Sam Altman lied about the intentions of worldcoin and openai. It’s always about control.

He attended Bilderberg Meeting’s after all.

#bitcoin


Never trusted the guy. He puts off vibes I don’t like


Sam Altman was never to be trusted


Where did you get that set???


Fuck no!

#saywhatyouthink


@strike finally launching around the world. Great work!

#stacksatsglobally


Cinema is becoming Content


Weed + anything 👌


“The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.”

— George Orwell, 1984 https://image.nostr.build/b34a2821c5e24460efc7b3803d4a4d08cc679d02a6c7f462d3c386ce3385adc9.jpg


Many already convinced and advocating other’s give them up too


How do I get my zaps back?? 😭😭


Keeping up with Joneses is more about keeping people distracted and complacent than anything else. How can you resist tyranny if you can’t resist buying the shiny new toy with money you don’t have?


And the sheep will flock to them because “it will be different this time” nostr:note1mcwncysyah90wetnlsz6vz3wudrv70xzdhlhad9t2xvmsch949dsf0zdrc


You don’t need to hit the gym for 3 hours a day. Keep it simple, progress at a steady pace, deload to focus on form, sauna, rinse and repeat.


Hype should be ignored. Degens trade the news, #bitcoiners stack sats


Sorry but Tibet isn’t the current thing so just ignore them


There needs to be a frownie face 💩


FinCEN is coming for the mixers. One step closer to the dystopia

#bitcoin


#bitcoin


Can we get this as a sticker?


This is America #landofthefreetoshoot


Where can I get that card format???


Will this be recorded and uploaded somewhere?


#endthefed
#istronglythinkthefedshouldbeaudited


Never will be, Mike 😘


I recently decided to ditch the doctor I have been working with for several years. Get this, they told me that cholesterol is 80% genetic, but we should be put in a pill to lower it? Why would a doctor want interfere with our natural state? I don’t have any health problems, but my cholesterol, that’s going to kill me. Not the bullshit food we are force fed


DCA all day!


I will post this every fkn day
until all we have is coffee
#coffeechain https://image.nostr.build/08cbad179f8febf8e71749628f4e27c3b2b80597bcea6ba8e73ae284706c68ba.jpg


TL;DR: Start resisting.


After you discover #bitcoin, you discover the money is broken. Once you realize the money is broken, you might think, what else is broken? For me the next revelation was food. Now, I’m #animalbased


Assuming you know this person personally

What guides?
For a non-technology person, I would personally show them the ropes. This allows for Q&A, best practices, etc. I lean toward learn by doing, so I taught myself the basics. But I understand not everyone likes that risk when it comes to money.

Where to buy?
Dependent on what jurisdiction this person lives, but I found using an app like strike or cash app to be most familiar and easy to use

How to store?
I would recommend to start with something like exodus, or similar non-custodial wallet. Once this person experiments with a few transactions, dive in to cold storage through hardware wallets. Having used several, tezor to me is the best due to cast and ease of use. Knowing the distinction between hot and cold wallets is crucial imo

Can’t wait to hear what others say!


The sauna is best combined with browsing #nostr


Truth


Notice me senpai 🥺


Nostr slice of life anime confirmed??


Did we ever really have an online identity until now? 🤔


This is why the BRICs are not to be feared. Let them destroy themselves from within


India Rejects Russian Demand To Pay For Oil In Chinese Yuan
https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/india-rejects-russian-demand-pay-oil-chinese-yuan


Colombia?


Looks like 6 managers got a talking too


Central banking must end


The MBAs got in


You spelled #bitcoin wrong


You grew popcorn???


Why I knew FTX was a scam.

Over night, every YouTuber and social media influencer were sponsored and promoting the company. Next time you see this happen, stay far away.

Don’t underestimate the greed of these people. Put enough #fiat in front of them and they’ll never question it.

Just one more reason for #nostr and #bitcoin


Can’t wait to listen!


Yep, that’s Nirvana!


Eat fat not fiat!


I was a Redditor for 12 years, now I #nostr because it fixes many of the issues of Reddit


Just another day in paradise


I guarantee Bill is a pure blood hypocrite


No more dollars. FTFY

#bitcoin


Still nothing 🤔


I want to zap, how do I get that on my iPhone? I downloaded TestFlight but I have no idea what I’m doing, I need an invite????

#fuckapplesometimes


This is amazing! Will there be a team built around this too support it? A lot of opportunity here that I would love to contribute too


“I’m going to make sure that #Bitcoin  is protected, that people can keep their own wallets, that the current White House war on bitcoin will be over, that transactions will be protected and encouraged.” #Kennedy24


Remove cap gains


LOL


Hell no


That may be the only way. Not interested in another third party involved in my #bitcoin purchases


I’ll add that I noticed this when I got an email my auto purchase was canceled. I checked the app and it shows my bank account needs to be reconnected. Not sure what happened, no issues with funds


I see card as well. Does that NOT require plaid? 🙏


nostr:npub1cn4t4cd78nm900qc2hhqte5aa8c9njm6qkfzw95tszufwcwtcnsq7g3vle why is plaid required now? I don’t remember going through plaid when I initially set up my payments method


Sit on the floor more often. “Rewild” your spine


Orange bill them both and get them on nostr 😁


Plants are not meant for human consumption. Eat an evolutionary diet. Meats, organs, eggs, fish, fruit, honey.


Damus!