Very useful article.
Especially the observation, which is quite Castellsian..
"Networks which have no counter-measures to maintain equality inevitably lead in time to a new concentration of resources."
And the counter-measure to networks, as to free market (and the two do share some key elements, and therefore presents such a potent force that it has more or less overwhelmed us today), is in my view. POLITICS.
Which is the reason that this self willed animal, Network, is so keen to annihilate politics, and replace it with a version of its own, of networked politics, like MSism and the such, which is no politics at all, just an antidote to politics, and will not be needed and disappear the day politics die.
But the problem is that; so many who hate and resist the growing power of the network, are simply not ready to sufficiently embrace politics. That to me today is the key problem.
parminder
On Sunday 24 August 2014 07:15 AM, michael gurstein wrote:
An interesting critique of Bitcoins by our JNC colleague Michel Bauwens. M -----Original Message----- From: nettime-l-bounces@mail.kein.org [mailto:nettime-l-bounces@mail.kein.org] On Behalf Of mp Sent: Friday, August 22, 2014 12:42 PM To: a moderated mailing list for net criticism Subject: <nettime> a political, commons-based evaluation of Bitcoin * In Conclusion Despite all the drawbacks mentioned, Bitcoin remains a landmark and pivotal development, showing that globally scaleable currencies are technically feasible. It sets the stage for potential commons-based p2p-driven currency systems and the Bitcoin ledger can become a tool for self-organizing communities. -------- Original Message -------- Could be of interest to this community: http://blog.p2pfoundation.net/a-political-evaluation-of-bitcoin/2014/08/20 # distributed via <nettime>: no commercial use without permission # <nettime> is a moderated mailing list for net criticism, # collaborative text filtering and cultural politics of the nets # more info: http://mx.kein.org/mailman/listinfo/nettime-l # archive: http://www.nettime.org contact: nettime@kein.org !DSPAM:2676,53f7c7dc308591196237022! _______________________________________________ Members mailing list