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There is a GNU cryptocurrency project that aims to give the State the power to tax the users of the currency. How can you trust anything with the GNU label afte

There is a GNU cryptocurrency project that aims to give the State the power to tax the users of the currency. How can you trust anything with the GNU label after that?

jrs95 9y ago
Stallman has always wanted government funded open source software, so that's probably why
- mattl 9y ago
  > Stallman has always wanted government funded open source software, so that's probably why Stallman wouldn't say open source. But here's his plan: https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/government-free-software.en.html https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/government-free-software.en.h...
Karunamon 9y ago
? What does that have to do with anything? The idea behind Taler is that unlike bitcoin, it doesn't try to fly under the radar of the authorities. That makes it a lot more palatable for regular people and greatly curtails the amount of undesirable elements using it that are associated with Bitcoin. Most people don't go out of their way to be tax cheats.
- al_chemist 9y ago
  Bitcoin doesn't try to fly under the radar of the authorities - it just doesn't give backdoors for authorities. Building currency taxable-first is like building messenger invigilation-first or building social-media censorship-first. Do you imagine Skype selling their software with main feature being that every conversation you have is being sent to authorities "for your protection" or "to fight terrorists"?
  - Karunamon 9y ago
    That's a massive false equivalence since taxation is an accepted law of the land and is a price you pay for government services. There's no good way to tax bitcoin given how it works.
    - fiatjaf 9y ago
      Mass surveillance is also the accepted law of the land. I know you haven't accepted it, but the government you appear to endorse has, and apparently that's all that matters, because I haven't accepted taxation in any form, nor have I accepted the form of law making that creates the power to tax, but I'm taxed anyway.
      - Karunamon 9y ago
        I'd really rather not relitigate the legitimacy of taxes on HN, but the reason why the currency was created in the way it was has been explained. If it truly bothers you that badly, there are many others.
    - fiatjaf 9y ago
      If taxation was "the price you pay for government services" then people should be taxed in proportion of the total of government services they use -- that's exactly what "the law of the law" says businesses should do when they elaborate their pricing.
cyphar 9y ago
> GNU cryptocurrency project GNU Talor is not a cryptocurrency. It's value is entirely derived from the mint (which operates as an exchange for other currencies). You can use it with BTC, USD or sheep. > aims to give the State the power to tax the users of the currency Just like ... any other currency? Seriously though, what's your argument? That nobody should be taxed? That BTC should be used for tax evasion? Also, you're not correct. Only vendors are taxable and auditable under this system. As a business owner this should be seen as a benefit -- you have cryptographic proof of income which can be used if you ever get audited. If you're a business owner who avoids taxes, then it's entirely your own fault. > How can you trust anything with the GNU label after that? GNU projects are maintained separately and have wildly different views. The requirements to be part of GNU are mainly related to how you treat users on GNU platforms and probably some management-related things. Emacs is not going to tax you just because Talor is also under the GNU umbrella. Stop spreading FUD.

There is a GNU cryptocurrency project that aims to give the State the power to tax the users of the currency. How can you trust anything with the GNU label after that?

jrs95 9y ago

Stallman has always wanted government funded open source software, so that's probably why

mattl 9y ago
> Stallman has always wanted government funded open source software, so that's probably why Stallman wouldn't say open source. But here's his plan: https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/government-free-software.en.html https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/government-free-software.en.h...

Karunamon 9y ago

? What does that have to do with anything? The idea behind Taler is that unlike bitcoin, it doesn't try to fly under the radar of the authorities. That makes it a lot more palatable for regular people and greatly curtails the amount of undesirable elements using it that are associated with Bitcoin. Most people don't go out of their way to be tax cheats.

al_chemist 9y ago
Bitcoin doesn't try to fly under the radar of the authorities - it just doesn't give backdoors for authorities. Building currency taxable-first is like building messenger invigilation-first or building social-media censorship-first. Do you imagine Skype selling their software with main feature being that every conversation you have is being sent to authorities "for your protection" or "to fight terrorists"?
- Karunamon 9y ago
  That's a massive false equivalence since taxation is an accepted law of the land and is a price you pay for government services. There's no good way to tax bitcoin given how it works.
  - fiatjaf 9y ago
    Mass surveillance is also the accepted law of the land. I know you haven't accepted it, but the government you appear to endorse has, and apparently that's all that matters, because I haven't accepted taxation in any form, nor have I accepted the form of law making that creates the power to tax, but I'm taxed anyway.
    - Karunamon 9y ago
      I'd really rather not relitigate the legitimacy of taxes on HN, but the reason why the currency was created in the way it was has been explained. If it truly bothers you that badly, there are many others.
  - fiatjaf 9y ago
    If taxation was "the price you pay for government services" then people should be taxed in proportion of the total of government services they use -- that's exactly what "the law of the law" says businesses should do when they elaborate their pricing.

cyphar 9y ago

> GNU cryptocurrency project GNU Talor is not a cryptocurrency. It's value is entirely derived from the mint (which operates as an exchange for other currencies). You can use it with BTC, USD or sheep. > aims to give the State the power to tax the users of the currency Just like ... any other currency? Seriously though, what's your argument? That nobody should be taxed? That BTC should be used for tax evasion? Also, you're not correct. Only vendors are taxable and auditable under this system. As a business owner this should be seen as a benefit -- you have cryptographic proof of income which can be used if you ever get audited. If you're a business owner who avoids taxes, then it's entirely your own fault. > How can you trust anything with the GNU label after that? GNU projects are maintained separately and have wildly different views. The requirements to be part of GNU are mainly related to how you treat users on GNU platforms and probably some management-related things. Emacs is not going to tax you just because Talor is also under the GNU umbrella. Stop spreading FUD.