April 2016 – Page 6 – Amalgamated Contemplation

How a Cashless Society Could Embolden Big Brother – The Atlantic

Source: How a Cashless Society Could Embolden Big Brother – The Atlantic

When money becomes information, it can inform on you.

A cashless society promises a world of limitation, control, and surveillance—all of which the poorest Americans already have in abundance, of course. For the most vulnerable, the cashless society offers nothing substantively new, it only extends the reach of the existing paternal bureaucratic state.

As paper money evaporates from our pockets and the whole country—even world—becomes enveloped by the cashless society, financial censorship could become pervasive, unbarred by any meaningful legal rights or guarantees.

The USA only has 300 million people while China and India each have well over 1 billion. In 20 years, China and India will be “need to serve” markets for multinational/international corporations – including those which handle financial transactions. What if the Chinese or Indian government suggests that such a company might show and see goodwill if it would voluntarily choose to not serve an American – possibly even one running for public office? Imagine an election campaign that couldn’t accept digital/electronic donations, or a Super PAC which had its funds frozen for a few crucial days or weeks.

A future cashless society that isn’t utterly private and anonymous (which has its own risks and downsides) is one in which *huge* control will be held by those capable of influencing digital-finance bottlenecks.

Nest Reminds Customers That Ownership Isn’t What It Used to Be | Electronic Frontier Foundation

Source: Nest Reminds Customers That Ownership Isn’t What It Used to Be | Electronic Frontier Foundation

It used to be that when you bought an appliance, you owned it, and you could take it apart, repair it, and plug in whatever accessories you wanted without the manufacturer’s knowledge or permission.

Nowadays, software enables devices to do new, useful things, but it also enables manufacturers to exert more control than ever before over their customers. Manufacturers use software to ensure a device serves their financial interests throughout its lifetime, forcing you to go to an authorized repair shop, buy official parts, and stay out of the secret workings of the device that would let you know what it’s doing with the data it collects about you.

The Evolution of Religious-Freedom Law in America – The Atlantic

Source: The Evolution of Religious-Freedom Law in America – The Atlantic

How efforts to bolster religious liberty set off a chain of unintended consequences—transforming the rights of individual conscience into a bulwark of secular wealth and ecclesiastical power.

The new claim of free exercise—one which will be heard more and more—is not for accommodation, or even exemption, from the law; it is for immunity. It is for, in essence, the right to secede from civil society.

Ted Cruz’s campaign is fueled by a dominionist vision for America (COMMENTARY) – The Washington Post

Source: Ted Cruz’s campaign is fueled by a dominionist vision for America (COMMENTARY) – The Washington Post

Seven Mountains Dominionism is the spiritual fuel that motors Cruz’s campaign for president.

Cruz’s approach to politics is inseparable from this theology. His goal is to lead a Christian occupation of the culture and then wait for the Second Coming of Christ.

From Gunpowder to World Domination – Barron’s

Source: From Gunpowder to World Domination – Barron’s

Europeans borrowed the Chinese invention of gunpowder and improved it into a world-conquering weapon.

In the 15th century, Europeans brought together three technologies—gunpowder, cannon manufacture, and large oceangoing ships—and used the result to conquer the world. By 1900, all but a handful of countries were either Western themselves or under European control.