[rglullis]

> I think Craigslist and the like should be subject to effective, proportionate regulation.

In theory, "effective, proportionate regulation" would be great. In practice, we get systems that promote the Surveillance State, regulatory capture and Crony Capitalism, and the implementation of "one-size-fits-all" solutions that eliminate all options to have local autonomous communities.

> Consumer protection is a hugely valuable part of civilised society.

Like I said in the top comment: it's not an either/or proposition. I don't think that blockchain/crypto/decentralized solutions need to replace the existing solutions to be worthwhile. They are worthwhile because they increase our optionality and work as an hedge.

A "civilized society" that requires all people to be subject to the same rules all the time and can not withstand ambiguity and context analysis is a fascist one. The more you see people pushing for this idea that blockchain should be eliminated, the more you will see other people realizing how much it is needed.

[lmm]

The idea that capital should be allowed to act without any oversight or accountability is fundamentally fascist. Wealth distribution follows a power law at the top, so the majority of wealth ends up in the hands of a few or even a single individual - if you say that wealth must be able to be used anonymously and society must not be allowed to stop any mutually beneficial trade between two individuals, then you give those few essentially unlimited power, because there will always be someone desperate enough to do whatever it is they want.

I agree with the need for some flexibility and grey areas. But unrestricted capital is far too dangerous, like private nuclear weapons.