Barbra Streisand And Bitcoin: How Political Missteps, Censorship And War Are An Opportunity For The U.S.

Part One: The Barbara Streisand Effect

If you haven’t explored the California Coastal Records Project (resource), you should. The website hosts astir fractional a terabyte of images, astir 100,000 successful all, which include, obviously, the California coast, and spans overmuch of the Oregon and Mexico borders arsenic well. Some areas are omitted for nationalist information reasons, for illustration Vandenberg AFB, however, overmuch of the state’s coastline is included successful the project’s database. Beyond beauteous coastlines, the database besides houses, and makes publically available, images of properties overlooking the Pacific Ocean; including Malibu estates, to the chagrin of immoderate personage and high-profile residents.

In aboriginal 2003, Barbara Streisand sued Kenneth Adelman arsenic good arsenic the now-defunct Pictopia.com, for what the suit alleged was, astatine the time, an penetration of privacy. Prior to the lawsuit, which sought to region the residence’s images from the database (and each nationalist records for that matter), the property of Barbara Streisand, according to ineligible records, had been viewed (downloaded) a full of six times from the website — that is not a misprint, virtually six times. How galore times would you conjecture that the images were viewed oregon downloaded aft the suit made front-page news?

Within 1 period of the lawsuit becoming nationalist news, the images were downloaded implicit 420,000 times (and this was during the aboriginal net era), the nonstop other of what Streisand and her ineligible squad had intended. The quality yet went planetary and little than 10 months aft the archetypal suit was filed, a Los Angeles Superior Court justice dismissed the case, however, the irony of the lawsuit inactive resonates contiguous arsenic a effect of unintended consequences.

Nearly 2 decades later, successful galore fields of study, The Streisand Effect is inactive a salient taxable of treatment and radical proceed to presumption images of the spot — again, precisely the other of the archetypal objective. Attempted censorship drew attention. Streisand’s effort astatine suppressing accusation was and continues to beryllium a catastrophic disaster. Broad fields beyond the evident (journalism, nationalist relations oregon communications) specified arsenic authorities and concern continually adhd examples of failed censorship events; galore of which person backfired against an enactment oregon idiosyncratic attempting to suppress an idea, concept, topic, lawsuit oregon innovation. Local, nationalist and planetary examples adhd to the increasing tract and rekindle the taxable (source).

In an nonfiction from 2015 by Sue Curry Jansen (USA) and Brian Martin (Australia) titled “The Streisand Effect and Censorship Backfire” (source) the authors identified 5 tactics utilized by censors successful an effort to trim outrage. Again, successful galore instances they typically backfire, particularly erstwhile the assemblage is alert of the manipulation attempt(s). These tactics, arsenic cited successful Jansen and Martin’s enactment are:

1. Hiding the beingness of censorship;
2. Devaluing targets (the individuals oregon groups) of censorship;
3. Reinterpreting actions by lying, minimizing consequences, blaming others and utilizing benign framing;
4. Using authoritative channels to springiness an quality of justice; and
5. Intimidating opponents.

Sounds acquainted right? There are immoderate radical (truckers, supporters, citizens and escaped thinkers) who proceed to enactment successful defiance of the Canadian Prime Minister’s directive, that whitethorn beryllium the adjacent illustration of the Streisand Effect playing retired now. The irony of bringing unneurotic liberals and conservatives is profound for truthful galore reasons, excessively galore to database present but you get the idea. These events had Canadians from each walks of beingness seeking refuge retired of their state and their bequest banking system; and they person non-Canadians questioning if they’ll ever acceptable ft successful the state successful the future. The 5 bullet-points supra are playing retired successful lock-step, however, an informed nine present sees beyond the censorship, targeting and intimidation tactics, and they’re turning to Bitcoin. Canada, I’d similar to present you to Barbara Stresiand; she has a communicative to archer you.

Part Two: Push-Pull Factors

In astir Geography 101 classes, students are introduced to “Push-Pull Factors.” There are demographic, economic, political, ecological and migrant travel sub-categories and the Venn diagram begins to get a spot muddled the much 1 digs into the details. For the purposes of this explanation, let’s interruption them into 2 categories, earthy and human-made. In the simplest sense, “push factors” repel people, and arsenic specified marque surviving difficult, uncomfortable, unbearable oregon intolerable to proceed successful a circumstantial location. Push factors virtually “push” inhabitants retired of a circumstantial portion oregon locale. This is wherever Elon Musk leaving California for Texas makes sense; and wherefore a erstwhile arrogant Canadian is present connected Zillow exploring existent property options successful the United States.

Natural propulsion factors mightiness include, but are not constricted to: erupting volcanoes, flooding, earthquakes and habitually inclement weather. Conversely, human-made propulsion factors mightiness include, but are not constricted to: taxation, violence, crime, deficiency of capable wellness care, mediocre section economy, excessive bureaucracy (red tape), martial instrumentality oregon a deficiency of accidental oregon prosperity for residents.

Pull factors beryllium connected the other extremity of the spectrum: These attributes “pull” (attract) radical to them. Elon Musk was “pushed” retired of California but helium was besides “pulled” into Texas. These factors can, successful astir instances, beryllium the inverse of propulsion factors. Pleasant upwind and abundant earthy resources are examples of earthy propulsion factors; additionally, upheld freedoms, debased taxes, debased crime, bully schools, exceptional wellness care, expedited oregon constricted processing of permits and abundant employment opportunities are examples of human-made propulsion factors.

The push-pull factors could beryllium visualized successful a assortment of ways, but astir evidently is with moving trucks oregon caravans of radical migrating to a caller destination successful hopes of abandoning 1 that is little desirable.

So what successful the satellite bash Barbara Streisand oregon push-pull factors person to bash with the Bitcoin assemblage oregon those Canadians warring for their economical lives? Whether satellite leaders admit that these factors beryllium oregon not has nary interaction connected the information that a push-pull crypto and residential warfare was astatine hand. Manipulation tactics of the past lone illuminate censorship agendas and thrust adjacent much radical to distrust the government, research bitcoin ownership and subsequently, acold retention for the asset; again, the nonstop other of the intended objective.

In the U.S., states with a wide knowing of these factors are moving to incentivize (pull) crypto endowment (coders, businesses and beyond) to their cities and states; paradoxically, immoderate states bash not adjacent recognize they’re successful a conflict arsenic they “push” endowment away.

The full state of Canada, with the changeable of a pen, became a planetary “push factor” for galore residents and a push-factor state for aboriginal Bitcoin retirees. The U.S. national authorities hasn’t gone that far, but they may, and if they do, they’ll person their ain states’ perspectives and absorption to woody with. An Executive Order, historically, has had a mode of either righting the vessel oregon shitting the bed; we’ll spot however this plays out, but I’m cautiously optimistic.

Wyoming, for example, has aspirations of lodging 5% of the planetary Bitcoin hashrate by the adjacent halvening; marque a enactment to hunt for a fantastic nonfiction by Amanda Cavaleri connected Bitcoin Magazine’s website (source) for much connected that. Wyoming sees itself successful a warfare for migrants fleeing neighboring states; couldn’t the U.S. bash the aforesaid for neighboring countries?

As Bitcoin exits the infancy signifier and matures, U.S. states positioned with state astatine the forefront, supported by people abundant vigor and/or favorable taxation incentives (Wyoming, Texas and Nevada are obvious, but New Mexico, Utah and Colorado are not to beryllium near retired of the conversation) are virtually “pulling” (attracting) cryptographers, coders, miners, crypto businesses and entrepreneurs to their states — and now, perchance pro-Bitcoin and no-coiner Canadians arsenic well.

This is successful summation to entrepreneurs who person noticed this displacement and are forward-thinking. Planning of lodging developments, restaurants and the required infrastructure indispensable to clasp caller inhabitants are already successful the works. These states volition besides beryllium attracting Canadians who question asylum from the existent developments successful their ain country. U.S. politicians, delight wage attention. You person an accidental to pull not lone the brightest minds of this generation, but besides a radical of radical who are hardworking, decent and looking for opportunity.

In bid to support and clasp radical and businesses, states (and countries) volition request to proceed to incentivize residents to not lone stay, but to flourish, grow and hopefully discontinue successful their states (and state for that matter). What incentives bash immoderate Canadians person for staying successful their ain state now?

Incentives mightiness see taxation law, designed to pull (pull) caller residents — debased oregon zero percent taxes connected income, debased comparative income taxes and/or debased oregon non-existent superior gains taxes astatine the authorities level. For immoderate Canadians, a propulsion origin mightiness mean that they person their spot taken due to the fact that of their idiosyncratic beliefs, without owed process. Many regular Ukrainians and Russians volition besides beryllium exploring options for relocation. These moments volition specify countries that supply opportunities for individuals successful need; Opportunity should beryllium apolitical.

At a minimum, a state oregon authorities that is agnostic successful however an idiosyncratic spends their clip oregon currency (so agelong arsenic they are not infringing upon others’ freedoms, of course) is simply a start. Moreover, a portion wherever idiosyncratic freedoms are upheld, adjacent if governmental enactment disagrees, is simply a foundational facet of the United States — these attributes person the imaginable to gully the top talent, wealthiness migration and geopolitical displacement the satellite has ever seen. I genuinely judge the U.S. could go the planetary person successful the integer plus space; politicians conscionable person to supply breathing country for innovation.

The shot is successful the American tribunal astatine this point, whether they take to clasp the Founding Fathers’ archetypal intentions of Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness oregon broadside with the Canadian directive. There is simply a monolithic accidental to unfastened the country’s arms to radical seeking freedoms not disposable successful their existent region(s).

Note that Canada does person absorption and that their Prime Minister does not talk for each its citizens. Nor bash I; I’m conscionable a escaped dependable (for now) successful the U.S., with 1 perspective. Same for Russian citizens; we cannot presume that each radical from each areas deliberation alike and arsenic such, a state unfastened and consenting to let differing perspectives provides freedoms lone dreamt of successful different places of the world.

Currently, Malta, Portugal and Puerto Rico are destinations the crypto-wealthy are migrating to successful attempts to trim oregon destruct their taxation load arsenic they walk oregon speech their crypto assets for fiat currencies. Canadians, instrumentality enactment present erstwhile hunting for a caller location successful respect to fiscal flexibility, but you’ll besides person to see exploring nations with a due Constitution, a Bill of Rights oregon equivalent.

Some of you whitethorn person had your wealthiness seized, but your talents cannot beryllium taken — those gifts, enactment ethic and cognition spell with you, wherever you go.

In the future, Bitcoin volition supply you with an accidental to debar these wealth-transferring events and let you to guarantee your prosperity extracurricular censorable fiscal systems.

Some of your peers whitethorn person already made this decision. So person immoderate states and countries seeking your attention. Puerto Rico, for example, presently has a 0% superior gains taxation and a 4% income taxation complaint connected residents (assuming anyone wants to merchantability their bitcoin). But your idiosyncratic freedoms are astatine involvement arsenic well: Ensure those aspects of beingness are considered if you relocate.

What is to forestall aboriginal Texas, Nevada oregon Wyoming crypto retirees from leaving their respective states successful hopes of lowering their taxation load successful their last years of life? In truth, nothing; these crypto-entrepreneurial states whitethorn autumn into the aforesaid complacent trap California, New York and present Canada person — clip volition archer if they larn from the mistakes of those earlier them. Note: crypto-friendly countries/regions, successful a hidden warfare for endowment with Malta and Portugal, include: Switzerland, Slovenia, Singapore, Malaysia, El Salvador, Hong Kong, Germany and Belarus.

Future Canadian refugees (yes, I called them refugees) are taking notes arsenic they program their exit. The carnal Ukrainian and Russian region from the shores of the U.S. creates a hard trek and arsenic such, neighboring countries, successful the abbreviated term, person the accidental that the U.S. has with respect to Canada: Only immoderate are sufficiently good disconnected to marque a travel halfway astir the world.

So, if they bash arrive, what states volition caller immigrants telephone home? And volition they stay, flourish and/or discontinue determination successful the future?

Wyoming, Texas, Nevada and different American states volition look the aforesaid hardships (i.e. wide outward migration) that New York and California look contiguous (and 1 Canada volition look soon) if they are not careful. Likewise, each crypto-friendly authorities volition not lone request to person abundant vigor sources, a competent and talented workforce, a thriving and supportive infrastructure, each authorities volition request to beryllium capable to vie for the economical spending of retirees.

What bully to the authorities taxation committee is simply a millionaire oregon billionaire successful California if they migrate to a competing authorities with their status portfolios and past proceed to patronize businesses, acquisition homes, vehicles, etc., extracurricular of the authorities successful which income oregon investments were earned oregon matured? Likewise, what bully is simply a Russian millionaire if their rubles are worthless? Russians mislaid arsenic a effect of overnight inflation; Canadians mislaid to authorities theft.

In Canada, funds were virtually seized, however, those assets are lone a snapshot of the aboriginal imaginable of these people. All Canada did was guarantee a beingness of distrust from not lone their ain people, but aboriginal imaginable citizens who person removed “Canada” arsenic a aboriginal spot to telephone home, physique a concern and/or discontinue in. In Russia, slope runs are an expanding possibility.

There are rumblings that radical person canceled Canadian abrogation trips based connected the actions of a azygous person. What economical toll volition censorship person connected a country; and what economical accidental exists for a state consenting to let its citizens existent economical freedom?

Canada is connected way to suffer the bosom of its system if they proceed to demonize their workforce. Similarly, California is connected a way to determining what a 10% (or more) income taxation connected zero (i.e. ne'er having realized gains successful the state) is, and if that argumentation was worthy losing to a authorities oregon determination with a 4% income taxation — remember, these regions are competing for perchance millions, billions oregon trillions (if ostentation keeps up) of dollars of aboriginal realized income. While Canada and California are different, they are besides a batch alike successful their governmental pursuits and resulting quality exodus.

California and New York are premier examples of bequest states that benefited from a tech roar (California) and a digitized analog fiscal roar (New York), but haven’t adapted to a changing clime of distant workers oregon integer assets. These states are besides the ones that basal to suffer the astir economic, governmental and taste power of the adjacent generation.

Canada is successful a akin boat. The push-pull wars betwixt regions specified arsenic California and Texas, New York and Florida, oregon Canada and the US, spell good beyond existent governmental enactment preference. The headlines of Liberal versus Conservative marque casual clickbait for advertisement revenue; however, the sermon is overmuch much analyzable than is disposable successful a fistful of characters. The aforesaid goes for the determination galore Canadians volition look erstwhile considering to wantonness their location for promised freedoms that volition beryllium honored elsewhere.

These migration wars, erstwhile won, volition spell beyond shaping the economical scenery of the United States, Canada oregon the world; victorious states (or countries) volition supply the adjacent procreation of thought leaders successful a assortment of governmental arenas and economical forums.

Regions (or countries) which successfully pull and clasp pro-crypto (freedom) individuals and businesses volition straight power taste trends for decades to come. California, with its multitude of taxation laws and impediments to entrepreneurs, stands to suffer much than conscionable a fistful of millionaires oregon billionaires successful the fight; California has already begun to suffer tv and movie to competing states, what is next?

I posit that the authorities is connected the brink of losing its governmental and taste power connected the state and the world. Some whitethorn invited this change, others whitethorn not. Given the choice, I don’t judge the U.S. authorities would similar to relinquish its dominance successful planetary leadership; embracing integer assets is the astir apt direction. And portion I’m definite Centralized Digital Dollars are lone a fewer years out, Bitcoin’s dominance volition not beryllium undone done centralized projects.

Canada has already done capable harm that the effects volition past generations; the distrust volition not beryllium forgotten and the Streisand Effect of fiscal seizure lone ensures much citizens volition question refuge extracurricular accepted channels. Their nonaccomplishment is simply a planetary opportunity. Similarly, radical seeking refuge from Ukraine and Russia privation opportunity, state and security; precisely what Bitcoin proponents suggest the protocol offers.

Part Three: Canada, Streisand And Bitcoin

The events that were unfolding successful Canada past period are a testament to the fragility of freedom; this month, Ukranians and Russians are successful the aforesaid boat. I could postulate here, dissect each event, suggest solutions, correlate different countries and punctual readers of the past astir wide manipulation passim the pages of history, but I won’t; successful the end, it doesn’t matter. What’s the phrase? Something on the lines of, it’s easier to manipulate idiosyncratic than marque them recognize they’ve been manipulated…

So alternatively I’ll airs a question, thing you’ll person to reply for yourself. What bash you question successful this world?

Odds are, the reply revolves astir state successful immoderate fashion. In the suit Streisand filed successful 2003, state won. Canada attempting to censor regular radical volition astir apt backfire for a multitude of reasons; the struggle betwixt Ukraine and Russia whitethorn person a akin result — the other of what was intended if we tin fast-forward history.

Dictators, portion often victorious successful the abbreviated term, are despised by their people, adjacent galore successful their ain interior circles; typically it’s conscionable a substance of time.

The United States has an accidental to go a refuge for radical from astir the world, not conscionable their neighbors to the north, seeking a escaped nine and a escaped economy. A welcoming state could perchance summation appreciative, hardworking, benignant and intelligent radical who are consenting and perchance capable to bring a nett affirmative summation to a society, arsenic they enactment to flight chaos.

Moreover, the fiscal missteps of erstwhile governments has a increasing fig of radical wary of fiat currencies and arsenic such, a state unfastened to its inhabitants owning Bitcoin would beryllium a affirmative for that country.

Be wary of politicians who accidental different successful respect to Bitcoin. Odds are they person a fiscal inducement for censorship.

If the United States were a lighthouse, I’d suggest it was clip to really illuminate the airy and punctual the satellite of what benignant of a state they really are. There are ships astatine oversea looking for a home; wage attraction to spot if the American lighthouse turns connected oregon stays successful the dark.

This is simply a impermanent station by Dr. Riste Simnjanovski. Opinions expressed are wholly their ain and bash not needfully bespeak those of BTC Inc oregon Bitcoin Magazine.