From the very beginning, I've referred to wearing a mask as an act of obedience. Throughout this entire ordeal, I've never donned one in public. I've occasionally slung it around my neck to comply with mandates, but I steadfastly refuse to cover my mouth and nose. It's astonishing to witness how many people are still masked up, nearly two years after mandates were lifted.
This post isn't about masks, the struggle of having that suffocating piece of cloth on your face; it's about freedom (obviously), free money, knowing your rights, and exercising gentle disobedience. So, let's start with banks.
A few months ago, Nigel Farage raised a storm when he found himself unbanked in the UK. He faced challenges when trying to find a bank that would accept his money. From what I know, he eventually secured a banking solution. However, for a while, he was excluded from the traditional banking system due to his vocal stance on various issues.
While I'm personally an advocate of cash and crypto, someone like Farage, with considerably more wealth and a more public life, faced a significant burden without a functional bank account. I don't know if he's aware of cryptocurrencies, but my gut tells me he is. In the interim, he could have easily adopted crypto cards for day-to-day transactions, eliminating the need for a traditional bank account for everyday spending.
On one hand, banks have made handling cash, especially large amounts, more convenient. However, aside from functioning as what seems like legal extortionists, their policies have allowed the financial system to tighten its grip around our necks.
A striking example of this occurred during the #freedomconvoy, where truckers in Canada protested vaccine mandates. Banks froze their accounts. Remember that? I do, as I tend to remember abuses and shadowy government actions.
I recently watched a short video clip, filmed by a woman, which I've linked with this post. In the video, the woman is asked to wear a mask inside a bank. This is despite the fact that her state no longer has a mask mandate. The woman, a lawyer, handled the situation brilliantly. I encourage you to watch the five-minute video, as it perfectly encapsulates the issue. The woman initially wanted to deposit a substantial amount of money, but after her mistreatment, she decided to withdraw all her holdings in cash (over $200,000). The bank refused to entertain any of her requests and even called the police.
It's amusing how the police have essentially become the establishment's guard dogs. Fortunately, she's a lawyer and deftly managed the situation with the police officer. She requested to withdraw her entire deposit, and the request will be processed. She continued with her business, politely telling the police officer that she wouldn't wait outside for a conversation unless she was arrested.
I don't know how you feel about this incident at the bank. Still, it reflects a lot about the world we inhabit. First and foremost, the banking system is a labyrinth of deceit and lies. The bank didn't have $200,000 in cash to give the woman. Imagine what would happen if 10% of their customers suddenly demanded the withdrawal of all their cash.
The situation also highlights how weaponized money has become and who truly holds the power. As with social media, we are mere users of what we call "our" money. Additionally, it reveals how obedient police officers can be in enforcing policies, regardless of whether the policies make sense.
Now, many state and banking institutions still involve human interaction. But what happens when everything becomes automated, a transition I'm not particularly excited about? If access to your own funds necessitates rigorous compliance, and you're unable to fulfill these requirements, where do you turn?
Bitcoin maximalists would likely cheer that Bitcoin is the solution. While Bitcoin plays a part, I've argued in previous posts that Hive offers a superior solution to many of society's pressing problems. Retail banks are part of the same system, but they're not necessarily allies. They will make compromises to attract more customers, as in the case of Nigel Farage, who eventually found a bank willing to accept his money.
The same will likely happen for the lady mentioned in this post. She will find a bank that accepts her money and doesn't require her to wear a mask inside their branches. This process is akin to slowly peeling off a band-aid; eventually, you have to rip it off. Whether we like it or not, we will have to start using cryptocurrencies for daily transactions and stop HODLing for extended periods while clinging to the outdated pathways of the old system.
Changing the system isn't a feasible option, so we must begin constructing our system and abandon the old one. Some argue that this transition will take decades, while others believe the crypto world will no longer see many new users due to economic difficulties and global conflicts. However, I believe these challenges will only expedite adoption. The woman mistreated at the bank is likely already considering Bitcoin or another form of cryptocurrency as an alternative for at least a portion of her savings.
What are your thoughts?
Thanks for your attention,
