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No matter how much I read on the subject, I always feel like the true nature and complexity of money eludes me. I don’t mean to disparage your comments, but I b

No matter how much I read on the subject, I always feel like the true nature and complexity of money eludes me. I don’t mean to disparage your comments, but I believe they reflect a lack of appreciation for the magnitude of the subject.

andrewmcwatters 6y ago
I agree with you. I don’t mean to suggest economic machinations are trivial, but some of the comments in this subthread raise counterpoints that I think casually dismiss the original points.
- traceddd 6y ago
  It’s true, but hardly limited to this subthread. While I disagree with most of HN about cryptocurrency and economics, the discussions are significantly more considerate and studied than anything I’ve come across in my daily life. Even society’s proclaimed experts seem to have an admittedly limited understanding and predictive capability. At the core, economics are an expression of collective human desire and thus it seems it will never be truly rigorous.
brighton36 6y ago
Money is a faith.
- voodootrucker 6y ago
  Put your faith in the entire human history of scarcity leading to optimization, or you can try the US Federal Reserve and Bretton Woods.
volume 6y ago
what I don't understand is Modern Monetary Theory: https://www.investopedia.com/modern-monetary-theory-mmt-4588060 https://www.investopedia.com/modern-monetary-theory-mmt-4588... Could it be that all this worry about printing money really doesn't matter?
- seibelj 6y ago
  As long as the US dollar is the global reserve currency, then forcing all other countries to accept our infinite printing is easier. But MMT will incentivize foreign countries to use alternatives, and when the US dollar is no longer a reserve currency, the game is over. MMT also requires the government to rapidly increase and reduce taxes, from my research on it. All of this makes it intellectual masturbation, plus a very terrible idea IMO.
- anonymouse008 6y ago
  It only doesn't matter as long as your demand outstrips supply -- Read as: as long as others want access and are not fully satiated to you, your affiliates, or what you both possess
  - ayyy 6y ago
    So, yes. Also, if the answer is "no", we're already very screwed.

andrewmcwatters 6y ago

I agree with you. I don’t mean to suggest economic machinations are trivial, but some of the comments in this subthread raise counterpoints that I think casually dismiss the original points.

traceddd 6y ago
It’s true, but hardly limited to this subthread. While I disagree with most of HN about cryptocurrency and economics, the discussions are significantly more considerate and studied than anything I’ve come across in my daily life. Even society’s proclaimed experts seem to have an admittedly limited understanding and predictive capability. At the core, economics are an expression of collective human desire and thus it seems it will never be truly rigorous.

brighton36 6y ago

Money is a faith.

voodootrucker 6y ago
Put your faith in the entire human history of scarcity leading to optimization, or you can try the US Federal Reserve and Bretton Woods.

volume 6y ago

what I don't understand is Modern Monetary Theory: https://www.investopedia.com/modern-monetary-theory-mmt-4588060 https://www.investopedia.com/modern-monetary-theory-mmt-4588... Could it be that all this worry about printing money really doesn't matter?

seibelj 6y ago
As long as the US dollar is the global reserve currency, then forcing all other countries to accept our infinite printing is easier. But MMT will incentivize foreign countries to use alternatives, and when the US dollar is no longer a reserve currency, the game is over. MMT also requires the government to rapidly increase and reduce taxes, from my research on it. All of this makes it intellectual masturbation, plus a very terrible idea IMO.
anonymouse008 6y ago
It only doesn't matter as long as your demand outstrips supply -- Read as: as long as others want access and are not fully satiated to you, your affiliates, or what you both possess
- ayyy 6y ago
  So, yes. Also, if the answer is "no", we're already very screwed.