The Emergence of A New Adversary

Recent election trends globally, and specifically in the U.S., have unveiled several “unaddressed issues” riddled with deceptive practices, psychological manipulation of the working class, and control disguised as misinformation. Post-Cold War, the world shifted from a clear-cut good versus evil narrative to a world missing necessary enemies for the sustenance of Western defense-industrial-political complex. This vacuum led the powerful elites to search for a new adversary, one that could be manipulated with ease. The common people themselves became this new enemy.

Often overlooked is the fact that this journey to control the working class started long before the Cold War concluded. It sprouted from various self-serving attempts to enhance the Western educational systems, protect inexperienced investors from making financial decisions that could affect Wall-Street, and preserve democracy, the dollar, and the market system.

The Illusionary Triumph of Fiat Money

Presently, the defense-industrial-political complex boasts an almost absolute victory over the 99%, based on a sequence of conflicts traced back to the 1980s. This was an era of deregulation, Wall-Street tycoons, and the emergence of financial engineering, which could also be viewed as the financial restructuring. The 1980s marked a significant turning point for Western Civilization. Despite coming off a period of stagflation, economic and political decline, and the aftermath of war, the socio-monetary conflicts that followed aimed to control commoners by dominating their education, wealth creation, transportation, eating and working habits, and opinions, among other aspects.

If you question the vast societal changes imposed in the 1980s, consider the birth of PEOPLExpress, the pioneer low-cost airline that promoted a future of aviation and travel devoid of reserved seats or meals. The decade also witnessed the ascendancy of finance as the most favored field of study among college students. Graduates were encouraged to disregard traditional jobs as the future was centered on financial transactions. Our food chains took a nosedive, continuing the decline into the 90s and beyond, with innovations like “Olestra”, a fat substitute that not only claimed to reduce calorie intake but came with side effects such as abdominal cramping and loose stools. And for the environmentally conscious, this period marked the transition from glass bottles to the plastic era.

While I highlight numerous groundbreaking actions in the 1980s, one of the most significant was the disruptions in our educational systems. These changes resulted in long-term negative impacts on individuals’ ability for rational thought, tolerance, and decision-making. The teaching of “self-esteem” in schools without it being earned became prevalent. The act of “trying” was rewarded with a significant portion of the college grade. The California-led campaign argued that raising people’s self-esteem could reduce crime, poverty, pollution, and other social evils. However, no mention was made of its potential to “fix the money” or “fix the world”. Instead of teaching practicality and rationality, people were encouraged to pat themselves on the back. This shift in mindset and the changes in social and educational structures in the 1980s, I argue, were the catalysts for the decline of global societal norms, values, and subsequently financial literacy.

“The underdogs emerge victorious”

In the ensuing decades, these movements have inflicted damage on the following generations, impacting financial literacy and other societal norms. Today, we witness the outcomes of these, perhaps, well-meaning but misguided programs as we struggle to educate both the young and grown adults about Bitcoin.

I remember a phrase from a TV sitcom: “The underdogs are the real victors.” Is that the kind of world we desire?

Apologies for the digression, but as Shakespeare once said: “I digress, hence I exist”. If you’re feeling down at this point in my discourse, either take a break, relax, or pull yourself together…and persevere.

“Spoiled” Orange…..Pilling

What’s the matter with today’s investors and markets? They form the TikTok investor generation who believe they can make investment decisions and quick money by spending countless hours on the app as a substitute for the subpar quality of university education in practical finance. Today’s investors think they’re invulnerable to the past. They believe they have all the knowledge. Somehow, lessons learned from history no longer matter beyond their five years of work experience at a Big-4 consulting firm, following a dual business/art history degree financed by $200,000 student loans.

The Wall-Street-political-media industrial complex contributed to the “dumbing down” of investors. This was achieved through tribulations like the manipulation of Libor, gold market collusion, and the Madoff Ponzi scheme that gave birth to a deep distrust of all established financial or mathematical impetus, regardless of its foundation or potential source of learning. Politically motivated misinformation further fueled the fire, advocating that inflation is “beneficial” and recessions no longer exist as they once did. Global political powers also added their bits, urging you to be “green or perish”.

The saying goes, “A fool and his money are soon parted”. Yet, today, the fool profits at the cost of the rational.

To this mix of misguided and ill-informed current investor generation, global central bank money printing presses since the 1980s added their drug through the creation of a glut of liquidity. Equip the TikTok investor with liquidity and in the words of Alan Greenspan “irrational exuberance” ensues. Investors are falsely led to believe they are experts in portfolio theory, risk management, and investing. The liquidity glut has spread through the TikTok generation more swiftly than a virulent virus.

In summary, these Spoiled Oranges over the last decades have created today’s irrational money management mentality. The Dunning–Kruger effect has incentivized investments in “Shitcoins” over Bitcoins.

As reported by Moneyzine.com, 25% of US adults displayed poor financial literacy in 2023. Gen Z and Gen Y have the lowest financial literacy rates among US generations, standing at 38% and 45%, respectively. Moreover, 48% of teens claim they learn about personal finance on social media.

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn once stated: “Humans are born with different capabilities. If they are free, they are not equal. And if they are equal, they are not free.”

But can a value proposition, a monetary revolution overcome such a dilemma?

Would Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn ever have hypothesized that his words could be applied to our aspiration to break free from Fiat dominance?

Can Bitcoin offer humans a great equalizer and personal freedom simultaneously?

From Spoiled Oranges to Orange Blossoms

Educating the new generation not just on Bitcoin but also on reviving financial common sense should be a priority. Practicality needs to triumph over social media likes. Today’s Robinhoods need to stop learning finance on TikTok and study historical context. Regarding Bitcoin, the fearless Greg Foss said it’s “just math”.

As the outspoken Max Keiser also stated: “We must persist in educating the masses and encourage savings in Bitcoin to truly drain the kleptocratic swamp controlling our financial system.”

Even “God’s Banker” could not escape the wrath of the irrational Fiat world, meeting his end under one bridge too many.

Without financial common sense as written by Benjamin Franklin in “The Way to Wealth“,

“We are taxed twice as much by our idleness, three times as much by our pride, and four times as much by our folly”

Are you ready to awaken to the necessary reality or be taxed four times?

This is a guest post by Enza Coin. The opinions expressed are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect those of BTC Inc or Bitcoin Magazine.