The Inch That Grew: Why Bitcoin Is the True Measure of Value By Lincoln Gardner “Money is the most marketable commodity.” — Ludwig von Mises, The Theory of Money and Credit “The marvel of the price system is that, without anyone having to direct it, the right things are produced in the right quantities.” — F. A. Hayek, The Use of Knowledge in Society ⸻ I. The Absurdity of the Elastic Inch Imagine you’re a builder. Each morning before you begin work, you must check with the Bureau of Weights and Measures to see whether they’ve changed the length of an inch. Perhaps today, the Bureau has lengthened the inch by 0.25%—they say it’s to stabilize the cost per square foot of housing. Their stated goal is noble: to keep homes affordable and prices steady. But the consequence is absurd. If the inch is longer today, your lumber, nails, and concrete now produce less actual space. On paper, the price per square foot remains unchanged. But in truth, the home is smaller. The illusion of stability conceals the loss of real value. You would rightly call this madness. No builder could construct anything lasting if the very unit of measurement changed daily. Yet this is precisely how our economies operate. ⸻ II. Fiat Money: The Elastic Inch of Economics Increasing the supply of money is the economic equivalent of lengthening the inch. Central banks expand and contract currency supplies under the pretext of maintaining “price stability.” But just as a flexible inch sabotages architecture, a flexible money sabotages the economy’s structure of production. Ludwig von Mises and Friedrich Hayek showed that prices are not arbitrary tags. They are signals—condensed expressions of billions of individual decisions, each carrying vital information about supply, demand, and scarcity. When the measuring stick of money is constantly manipulated, those signals become unreliable. Entrepreneurs misjudge costs. Investors chase illusions. Societies misallocate resources. The invisible hand becomes uncoordinated, not because markets fail, but because measurement fails. Fiat money, like a rubber ruler, guarantees distortion. It lets policymakers appear to hold prices steady while quietly eroding purchasing power and shrinking real wealth. The house looks the same size on paper, but it is smaller in the world. ⸻ III. Bitcoin: The Honest Ruler Bitcoin is the restoration of measurement. Its supply is fixed—mathematically scarce and immune to political tampering. It is a monetary inch that never changes length. In a Bitcoin standard, prices would once again communicate truth rather than policy fiction. When we measure in Bitcoin, a striking revelation emerges: we are not living through an age of inflation, but an age of deflation—an era of increasing abundance concealed by fiat distortion. ⸻ IV. Deflation: The Dividend of Human Progress When productivity and efficiency rise—driven by competition, innovation, and technology—prices should fall. That is not an economic crisis; it is civilization’s reward for ingenuity. Under sound money, deflation is not a pathology to be feared, but a dividend to be celebrated. It means that the same labor and resources produce more output, that innovation is passing its benefits to everyone. Under fiat systems, this natural process is obscured. Inflation steals the visible gains of productivity, forcing prices upward and convincing people they are running in place even as technology races ahead. Measured in Bitcoin, the truth is clear: Year What One Bitcoin Could Buy 2010 Two pizzas 2015 A high-end smartphone 2020 A used car 2025 A small house in many parts of the world In fiat terms, prices endlessly rise. In Bitcoin terms, nearly everything deflates. Food, housing, energy, and technology all become more affordable as innovation accelerates and Bitcoin keeps score honestly. ⸻ V. Sound Money, Sound Civilization Sound money doesn’t fight deflation—it enables it. When prices fall because productivity rises, humanity advances. When they rise because money is debased, civilization regresses under the illusion of growth. Fiat currencies distort value and deceive perception. They let institutions claim stability while quietly diminishing what we can build, buy, or achieve. Bitcoin restores truth to value. It is the steel ruler against the rubber tape measure of fiat. It allows honest measurement, honest prices, and honest cooperation—the foundation stones of civilization itself. ⸻ Conclusion If the inch changed daily, builders could never construct cathedrals. If money changes daily, societies can never build prosperity. To measure value faithfully, we must use a tool that does not bend. Bitcoin is that tool. Only with a fixed, incorruptible standard of value can humanity build a future that stands straight, level, and true.

Yeah… Culture ain’t a cage, it’s a current, man. It moves. It merges. It morphs. Listen up. All culture’s borrowed, that’s the paradox we face, We’re remixin’ the world in a global interface. You can rep your roots or flip your taste, Adoptin’ what fits — that’s the human race. I love tacos, don’t make me Chicano, But I’ll still respect abuela and her mano. Does a word got an owner, like property rights? Or does it fly free when it enters the mic? Maori name on a shoe — that’s the fight, But who owns a sound when it’s said in the light? Pronunciation off, yeah maybe that’s wrong, But imitation can amplify the song. If your culture’s pure, it don’t need defense, It needs love, context, and common sense. Ideas don’t die, they evolve when they’re shared, Knowledge ain’t yours if the world’s not prepared. Call it theft, or call it collaboration, I call it Open Source Civilization. (Yeah) Open Source Soul, remix what you know, Pass the code, keep the flow, let it grow. Open Source Soul — that’s the way we roll, Culture’s a gift, not a payroll. “Gay” used to mean happy, light as a breeze, Now it’s pride in the streets, power to be free. Meanings migrate, words reincarnate, Language is a river, never static in state. You can’t lock an idea in a trademark cage, It’ll break through walls like a thought on stage. Every tribe, every creed, every neighborhood block, Built from trade, from exchange, from talk. Egypt to Greece to Rome to rap, Appropriation’s how we bridge the gap. It’s not about takin’, it’s about how you use it, Honor the roots, don’t abuse it, infuse it. If you guard it too tight, it’ll suffocate, But share the breath — that’s how you elevate. Ideas don’t die, they evolve when they’re shared, Knowledge ain’t yours if the world’s not prepared. Call it theft, or call it collaboration, I call it Open Source Civilization. (Yeah) Open Source Soul, remix what you know, Pass the code, keep the flow, let it grow. Open Source Soul — that’s the way we roll, Culture’s a gift, not a payroll. So should the Maori guard their word like a crown? Or teach the world how to say it right — pass it down? Preservation’s not restriction, it’s education, Expansion through translation, not isolation. If your culture’s real, it won’t vanish when shared, It thrives when cared, not when scared. I’m not stealin’ — I’m studyin’, buildin’, combin’ it, World’s one book, and we’re all rewritin’ it. Ideas are children, once born, they walk, Can’t own their steps or their talk. So here’s the code, no password, no wall, Human culture — open to all. Ideas don’t die, they evolve when they’re shared, Knowledge ain’t yours if the world’s not prepared. Call it theft, or call it collaboration, I call it Open Source Civilization.

In complex, nonlinear systems, like an economy, a society, an ecosystem, or a virus, order is an emergent phenomenon. Chaos Math rules in nature. This has far-reaching implications. 1. Predictability and Control: The acknowledgment that chaos mathematics governs natural systems challenges the traditional notion of predictability and control. For instance, in economics, this implies that market behaviors or financial crises cannot always be forecasted with precision, as they arise from countless interdependent variables interacting in nonlinear ways. Policies or interventions must account for this inherent uncertainty, focusing on resilience and adaptability rather than rigid control. 2. Interconnectedness: The implications extend to recognizing the deep interconnectedness within systems. In ecosystems, for example, the balance of predator-prey dynamics or nutrient cycles emerges not from a single directive force but from the interplay of countless organisms and environmental factors. Understanding this can guide conservation efforts to prioritize systemic health over isolated fixes. 3. Innovation and Adaptation: In societal contexts, the emergent nature of order suggests that cultural norms, technological advancements, or social movements often arise organically from collective interactions rather than top-down design. This insight encourages fostering environments that allow innovation to flourish through decentralized, adaptive processes rather than overly prescriptive planning. 4. Scientific and Philosophical Shifts: The dominance of chaos mathematics in nature invites a paradigm shift in both science and philosophy. It challenges reductionist approaches that seek to understand systems by breaking them into parts, advocating instead for holistic perspectives that embrace complexity. Philosophically, it prompts reflection on the nature of order itself—suggesting that what appears chaotic may, in fact, be a higher form of order we are only beginning to comprehend. 5. Practical Applications: These implications influence fields as diverse as epidemiology, where viral spread follows nonlinear patterns, to artificial intelligence, where emergent behaviors in neural networks mimic natural systems. By studying chaos and emergence, we can develop better models for disease control, climate change mitigation, or even organizational management, where adaptability to unpredictable shifts is paramount. 6. Monetary Policy: Here’s the full weave, elegant as dawn: In complex, nonlinear systems-economies, societies, ecosystems, viruses-order emerges, unbidden. Physics and chaos mathematics govern nature’s pulse. This insight reshapes all we know. Take money: in the 20th century, the Federal Reserve’s fiat empire rose-a product of progressive dreams, its banking committee wielding supply like clay. And the bailouts, rate cuts, quantitative easing of 2008 and 2020? Patches on chaos, inflating shadows while eroding trust. Outmoded now, unfit for a world that sees nonlinearity not as enemy, but ally. Enter Bitcoin: twenty-one million coins etched in code, no rulers-just rules. Halvings tick like seasons; nodes bloom worldwide, miners enforce without decree. Resilience? It’s woven deep-no chokepoint, no fragile few. When crises crash banks, adoption surges; El Salvador stacks sats as reserve. This isn’t tinkering; it’s evolution. We favor rules over rulers, letting decentralized flows nurture strength where once control suffocated. Far-reaching? Absolutely. Money reborn as emergent protocol, chaos tamed not by committee but by math-order, quiet and unbreakable, from the heart of what looks wild.

The timeless adage that “beauty resides in the eye of the beholder” encapsulates a profound truth: aesthetic judgment is not an objective decree etched into the fabric of reality, but a deeply personal perception shaped by individual experience, culture, and inclination. If, like me, you embrace this notion, you inherently align with the subjective theory of value—a philosophical cornerstone positing that worth, in all its forms, arises not from intrinsic qualities or external mandates, but from the unique appraisals of each observer. This convergence illuminates how our most intimate appreciations, such as finding splendor in a sunset’s fleeting hues or a melody’s resonant cadence, mirror broader valuations in life, where one person’s treasure might be another’s trifle. The implications of this subjective framework ripple far beyond mere aesthetics, reshaping our understanding of human interaction and societal structures. In economics, for instance, it underpins the dynamics of markets, where the value of a rare artwork or a technological innovation is determined not by the labor invested or materials used, but by the collective yet individualized desires of buyers and sellers—leading to phenomena like booming cryptocurrency markets driven by speculative faith, or the fluctuating worth of sustainable goods amid shifting environmental consciousness. Philosophically, it challenges absolutist doctrines, fostering tolerance in diverse societies where cultural artifacts, from ancient rituals to modern art installations, gain significance through personal resonance rather than universal acclaim. Yet, these ripples extend even to geopolitics: consider how subjective valuations fuel international trade disputes, where one nation’s prized resource, like rare earth minerals, becomes a bargaining chip in another’s quest for technological supremacy, potentially escalating into conflicts over perceived inequities. At its core, this theory inextricably intertwines with the sanctity of individual rights, for if value is a sovereign domain of the self, then true liberty demands the freedom to pursue, exchange, and protect one’s own valuations without undue interference. This manifests in the right to property, where an individual’s subjective attachment to a family heirloom or entrepreneurial venture justifies safeguards against arbitrary seizure, ensuring that personal flourishing is not subsumed by collective dictates. Similarly, it bolsters freedoms of expression and association, allowing one to champion causes—be it environmental advocacy or artistic rebellion—that resonate deeply on a personal level, thereby fortifying democratic societies against authoritarian overreach that imposes uniform values. In essence, embracing subjectivity not only celebrates human diversity but also erects a bulwark for autonomy, reminding us that a world of empowered individuals, each beholding their own beauty, yields a tapestry far richer than any imposed uniformity.

Follow the scientific method, not scientific consensus, not scientism, not science policy, not blind faith in “experts”. Examine the facts to see if they falsify the hypothesis. For example, the facts falsify the AGW hypothesis. Don’t let the experts usurp your power of reason. You can’t be free if you don’t think for yourself.

Seek out your own implicit assumptions and examine whether they are on a solid foundation of facts. An example is the implicit assumption that complex nonlinear systems (like a society, an economy or an ecosystem) can effectively be controlled from the top down. This is a common political fallacy that often manifests itself in ways that are disappointing, unexpected, and non beneficial. The facts, however, reveal that in complex non linear systems, order is an emergent phenomenon, not an imposed one. Isn’t that a better foundation on which to build?

The ends don’t justify the means. The means are the end. Wonder, creative spirit, love, kindness, tolerance, freedom, forgiveness, cause the emergence of wide reaching beneficial effects. Jesus, Lao Tzu’ Tao Te Ching, Buddha, Tolstoy, Paramahansa Yogananda, Prince Kropotkin, … they’re on to something fundamental.

I’ve been finding some fun surf lately.

Hola! Here are 62 minutes of dreamtime with Martin Headman and me. The images are from my 2024 art quest in Midjourney. Enter at your own risk. Aloha!

This completes my goal to share at least one image per day for all of 2024, that I created in the app Midjourney. I posted my images on Instagram, Facebook, X, Nostr, and Orion. My goal was to share them without any hope or expectation of a particular outcome or response. It was important to me to overcome hesitation and trepidation about sharing my artistic ideas, and I have accomplished that goal. Having said that, I want to thank everyone who liked or commented (whether online or personally) on my images. Your comments and takes were insightful, articulate, funny, wonderful, unexpected, and encouraging. You confirmed for me that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, or, to put it another way, value is subjective. And I really enjoyed interacting with you. To those who felt an emotional response to any of the images, it has been my honor to have touched you. Also, thanks to everyone who bought one of my images. I am happy and grateful that you liked an image enough to keep and display it. I will keep my store, MobiusLDG.com, open for now, at least until it becomes more of a hassle than a blessing. All of the images that I posted this past year are in the Wall Art section of the store. Some are canvas wraps and some are giclee prints. And if an image is not in the form you would like, just send me a message and I will try to accommodate. Best wishes to everyone for a fulfilling 2025, and to the new friends I have made through this process, your friendship and support has been such a pleasant surprise and inspiration, so thank you!

#mobiusldg.com #art

#mobiusldg #art

#mobiusldg #art