> But it's something that could, in theory, be regulated if we find the will to do so. Oh definitely we can, I just don't expect it to be realistic. Similar to

> But it's something that could, in theory, be regulated if we find the will to do so. Oh definitely we can, I just don't expect it to be realistic. Similar to being a tax haven, it's profitable for some countries to not make something illegal such that the people will go there to do it and pay only a small tax (or, in this case, be allowed to do it at all). Other countries can put pressure etc., but it would take time we don't have. Hence my alternative idea of making it illegal to use and forcing people to use alternatives, rather than to require it to use a precious resource (renewable energy). Then again, making proof of work illegal to use seems like it would be too easy for a non-trivial part of the population to start screaming that the tinfoil hats were right. > Why not impose a global carbon tax on all goods and services known to produce pollution? Full agree. I genuinely don't know why we're not already doing that. Well, I mean, corruption, fear of change.. lots of things, but nothing fundamental. Not as if not literally everyone realizes that we will need to start with this. And I understand that some industries are so dependent on it that your economy collapses if you, from one day to the next, impose a tax equal to the real environmental damage done. People wouldn't get around, steel would cost more than gold, we can't build wind turbines anymore because they're made out of unobtainium (aka steel), etc. But we all know we need to get there anyway, and with the capitalistic system we have, well, the super fucking easiest way is to just start with a low carbon tax that increases to "real environmental damage" in <target_year_for_climate_neutral>. Probably an exponential curve to give companies some time to build out and use alternatives, but we do need to get there, everyone knows it (yes, also the politicians, and the delusional ones aren't in enough power to use that as an excuse), but we're not doing it. > My original point was to channel focus on what matters I suppose I agree with that. I am just frustrated with people invested in Bitcoin, people that are otherwise rational, waylaying logical arguments because they subconsciously don't want it to be true. It's clear as day, why can't we just stop this madness... In general you're right of course, universal carbon tax would seem like it solves most things in one go instead of trying to fight a lot of individual battles for bitcoin, coal plants, and other individual things that produce CO2 or take renewable energy away unnecessarily.