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Comment by emteycz | Hacker News Reader

You know what sucks? Governments having control of money. Governments will suck you dry of your last cent if they have the slightest reason, regardless of your need to have a bed under a roof and having something to eat. Don't let governments control all money. Even if this was true, it's worth it.

And I don't believe it's true. Are you telling me most Bitcoin miners are paying for mining Bitcoin? I really would like to meet these miners. If a miner wants to be profitable they must use waste electricity - any other electricity, industrial or not, is several multiples too expensive. And I think it's better if waste electricity is used for Bitcoin instead of being dumped.

(I guess the downvoters never had a government take all their money because of unpaid parking tickets?)

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> I guess the downvoters never had a government take all their money because of unpaid parking tickets

That's kind of how it works when you don't pay your tickets.

However, I once had to go to court to show proof of insurance that I didn't have when I was pulled over.

I watched as all these people showed up, pleaded no contest and the judge gave them like 50% off what they owed. You would think you would get a discount if you paid out of court, but no, you can force extra/busy work on the courts and you get to pay less. Being a pain in the ass can save you money.

Speeding tickets, red light tickets - sure there can be innocents. But parking tickets - the ticketed are almost always guilty.

Of all the things to complain about regarding the government, you probably picked the most legitimate of all in parking enforcement.

I mean, I don't like all the rules and fines, but it's a pretty clear thing and a pretty clear fine & collection process.

Everyone knows you can get your car booted too.

Sure, and I eventually paid up, that's alright. It's not alright to force me to sleep in a car and wash under a hose behind a gas station, and to look for change in coffee automats. I actually would've paid faster if I had money for my food and rent, as I would've been able to work normally.

Did you go to court? Or just not pay for a long time? You said "take all your money". Was that indirect due to the fine amount or are you saying they actively took it (like a garnishment)?

Apart from the hack I mentioned, there are also options if you cannot afford.

Example: in LA they have community service or payment plan options. [1]

[1] https://ladot.lacity.org/projects/parking-in-la/pay-your-par...

I am actually in the great social paradise of European Union. It's not as good here as the EU shills make it out to be, unfortunately; I'd love to be in the USA. My court was automatical and behind my back without any notice, and there wasn't anything I could do after they forced my bank account into negative balance equivalent to median yearly wage. Not sure what the US equivalent of this would be, this is how the EU deals with debts; they will go to whatever they label as your home and take the stuff there if the bank account is too empty, regardless of whose stuff is it - no real way to appeal after it's done. My bank account fortunately paid for half of the debt so they didn't immediately go steal stuff from my parents.

Wow that's terrible how they handle that. What a bad process. That can't happen with your bank accounts for anything in the US unless you had a special judgment against you in court, which is difficult to get, it would take a long time but you'd have the option to contest it or get some leniency.

Typically auto related things are tied to just that - your car could get a boot put on it, could be towed, you could get your license suspended. You accrue fines. But they aren't garnishing any funds from any bank account. And you have recourse in court and other programs if you can't afford it.

I assuming you then live in a country with near no government and it’s a paradise for you

I said "don't let governments control all money", not "abolish governments", there is value in having governments, but it goes bad quickly if they control everything.

Show me that country please.

I would guess that literally no-one else on HN has "had a government take all their money because of unpaid parking tickets". I don't reckon it's as common as you think.

Visit a bar in a not-so-good part of your city (or some bigger city near you, if you live in a small one), it's way too common, just hidden to you. Even I was really surprised how many people are fucked over by the government, and I didn't have the best opinion of it before.

Why do you think BTC means taxes, fees and levies would go away?

I don't. I think BTC means my money won't turn over night without any notice into negative balance equivalent to median yearly wage. Nothing wrong about paying taxes and fees if there's enough money for the most basic necessities.

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