In terms of my original statement, I was effectively stating that the problem of decentralising currency doesn't really give back power to the people, because of the nature of wealth accumulation and propagation. Sure, it reduces the capacity for regulatory capture, but people with capital in whatever form still exercise a capacity to better maintain their capital base.
With regards to waste again, it becomes a moral issue. If we know that our externalities will cause problems, then by letting people continue to capitalise on them, we knowingly undermine the wider system we operate in. We have ethics committees for science and medical experiments, but when it comes to finance, experimentation occurs unimpeded. This leads to socio-economic outcomes which, while not fully understood, are also not complete unknowns.
It is trivial for Governments to implement a carbon tax which would improve environmental conditions for all energy intensive production.
With regards to giving power to people, this is not done through wealth redistribution (although you get a little bit of that). The mechanism is tgrough the constraint that the currency can not be debased. A rising tide lifts all boats, especially when there are not holes in them.
To be fair, I think there is already a risk of this, in any situation where capital becomes severely unequal. However, by making the monetary token itself an item of (appreciating) value, rather than only as means by which trade is mediated independently and in arbitrary small parts between multiple parties, is a sure way to speed that process up.
This makes no sense for several reasons. The no-coiners could just buy a tiny fraction of a BTC with whatever fiat they have and become fabulously wealthy. When they do this they would be setting the market price even higher for all the rich Bitcoiners. All the of these fabulously wealthy holders think against deploying any capital to either enrich their life or increase their rate of return over asset appreciation.
It is absurd to think that as an entire population becomes wealthier that was risk taking occurs, when it it people that are mired in debt that often take less risk.
Before you respond remember these facts, the market price is set by buyers and sellers (trading). Bitcoin is infinitely divisible despite a capped supply. Gresham’s Law dictates that people will spend bad money first. Your no-coiner set has at least the ability to provide a service to begin wealth accumulation.