Dear FO° Reader, 

As I sit down to write, I am reminded of why I engage in this expressive act. Writing, for me, is a powerful tool that helps to focus my mind and organize my thoughts. As I delve into a subject, such as the intricate workings of monetary systems, it allows me to question prevailing ideas, explore new concepts and gain a deeper understanding of complex topics. The process of writing compels me to conduct thorough research, comb through sources and critically analyze information to ensure the accuracy and credibility of my work.

Writing is a humbling experience. When I put my words on paper or publish them online, I go on the record, and anyone can go back and check what I wrote years ago. This sense of permanence and accountability makes me acutely aware of the responsibility that comes with sharing my ideas with the world. It encourages me to stay honest, transparent and open to learning from my mistakes.

Image Credit – Harbucks / shutterstock.com

Recently, I had the opportunity to be a guest on the New Money Review podcast, a moment that brought an episode of reflection to me. I remembered that, more than a decade ago, I had been interviewed by Paul Amery on a different platform. Curious to see how my perspectives had evolved over the years, I went back to the transcript of that interview. To my surprise, I discovered that many of my predictions and views had turned out to be entirely off the mark. It was an eye-opening experience that emphasized the importance of humility in my writing journey.

Over time, my journey as a writer has been marked by significant shifts in my beliefs, particularly when the appearance of Bitcoin profoundly altered the way I saw money and its role in our society. The emergence of this revolutionary decentralized cryptocurrency challenged my conventional understanding of monetary systems. Bitcoin seemed the perfect answer to a world marked by the increasing prospect of accelerating inflation due to escalating “printing” of money. It also seemed to offer a wonderful escape from government censorship and confiscation.

However, I recently came to realize the “bug” in our fiat monetary system to be a feature, and that a system based on gold or Bitcoin would be impracticable. My beliefs went from “no coiner” to “Bitcoin maximalist”, and back to “no coiner”—which serves as a reminder to never get married to ideologies or narratives. The world is full of people who are trying to lure you down rabbit holes and are very convincing in doing so.

Your view on things can change drastically by asking questions differently. You might, for example, ask yourself why glass is transparent. However, a more interesting question is, “Why are things other than glass not transparent?” given the vast empty space between electrons and nuclei inside atoms. The question is not why hail forms inside thunderstorms but rather why some hailstones seem not to succumb to gravity until reaching the size of a baseball. Regarding our monetary system, the most simple question, “How many dollars exist?” leads to so many further questions, including “What is money?” and “Where does money come from?”

And that is why I am grateful for platforms like Fair Observer, where authors are allowed to express their views free from any ideological constraints or economic pressure to write clickbait. Readers’ attention is scarce and should be rewarded with content that is made not to enrage but engage intellectually. That is why I dedicate time to writing a monthly contribution for Fair Observer.

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