Nothing Stops this train

Nothing Stops this train

One of my favorite authors is Lynn Alden. She has taken a perspective on Money that encompasses its history while at the same time being exceptionally adept at the many nuanced aspects of monetary policy as it relates to everyday investment.

Lynn has been quoted when discussing the unyielding nature of our monetary and fiscal policies, which are propelled by an unstoppable force. She uses the phrase, “Nothing stops this train,” to underscore the immense momentum behind these policies.

With all the emphasis on our presidential elections and the primary consideration of how the new administration’s policies will impact our unique individual financial future, we need to accept that there is little any politician can do to change 50 years of tenuous decisions about war and entitlements.

Many financial analysts and bankers have sounded the alarm about the impending disaster caused by decisions made years ago. The situation’s urgency is apparent, and it’s becoming increasingly difficult to postpone dealing with our growing debt. We can’t afford to ignore the new train on the tracks. While it’s messy to switch trains while they’re still moving, we may have little choice but to act.

There is another unstoppable force on the payment rails these days: Bitcoin. Anyone who has taken the time to understand it from its many faces will realize Bitcoin is as inevitable as our unsustainable debt. Switching trains while moving is more straightforward than rebuilding the global economy, but rebuilding is a task we should not shy away from.

Vote conscientiously regarding your political leadership, but don’t forget to vote for a better financial future by buying Bitcoin, not for the “Price go up” aspect (although it probably will) but for the “Freedom Money” aspect. Widely owned hard assets inevitably become a medium of exchange. This does not mean we need to leap from the debt-ridden dollar train. It just gives you a ticket on the future financial rails unburdened by the mistakes of the past.

Bitcoin makes it harder for governments to engage in war, corruption, and mismanagement. It does not make it impossible, just harder, when the levers of control are beyond their reach. Nothing stops this train, either.

Let’s face it: even the best of our political leadership is fallible. Making what seemed to be a good decision at the time often leaves future generations with unforeseen problems.

It’s challenging to wrap our heads around remaking our dollar debt-based system, but that does not mean we should dismiss it outright.

Rather than fighting for control, we could look toward a future that benefits everyone instead of a few. I am not talking about a Manhattan Project-type effort but rather a gradual acceptance that the train we are on is outdated and bound to run out of steam in the not-too-distant future.

The world is much smaller than it was in the age of the steam engine. The digital age has brought us closer in time and space, and we need to rethink money and all that comes with it.

If you are unaware of or have yet to learn about Bitcoin, I caution you to delve more deeply than just the technology and the current state of blockchain. Learn about money first. Lynn Alden’s book Broken Money is good reading and not filled with financial jargon. After that, the best way to learn about Bitcoin is to own some. There is no need to buy a whole Bitcoin; open your CashApp and buy as little as $5 to get started; skin in the game is a great motivator, and even $5 is a vote for a better future.