. . .
e-commentary turns twenty-one next week, a traditional bench mark of maturity. This project, hopefully, has a long and unexplored life ahead. e-commentary is still:
Peeking behind the curtain, lifting up the carpet, looking under the table. Honing skills, helping folks, having fun. Venturing answers to questions that have not yet been asked, seeking to elucidate as much Truth on as many issues in as few words as possible, striving to leave a “commentary of record” for Clio’s consideration. Chronicling the painful, wrenching, and uncertain transition from a uni-polar to a multi-polar world. Charting the American experiment and the American experience, the theory and the practice, the promise and the performance, the aspirations and the aftermath. Doing something was paramount. Having fun is important.
What is in a name? In 2005, “essay.org” and “e-essay.org” were taken. “e-ssay.org” turned out to be the perfect portmanteau of “electronic essay” and provided the original title for this undertaking. In the first few years, taut, short, cogent, succinct and focused “e-ssays” told people what to think rather than suggesting ideas to think about during the following week. Reveal, don’t tell, they wisely decree. Conversation provides a rapid ping-ponging of ideas. After a few years, “e-commentary.org” emerged as the perfect portmanteau and provided “electronic commentary” using dialogue to allow the reader to listen in on the discussion rather than being told what to think. The pieces are laced with many little lagniappes for the diligent reader to discover and deduce. Stitching these weekly poems together may reveal a . . . novel?
In recent years, most of the topical pieces focus on the wrenching, painful and uncertain transition from a uni-polar world to a multi-polar world evolving on an overpopulated planet undermined by debilitating debt – government, corporate, personal and spiritual. So far, the economy seems to be in a checkmate that keeps moving to another square that also leaves one in checkmate. # to #, yet the economy stumbles and bumbles along. See the e-commentary in 2024 at The Command Economy Is Failing; Cease Fiddling . . . With Interest Rates. Oh, And Happy Constitution Day! (September 16, 2024), Not Derivatives Again: Japan? (August 5, 2024), Bankruptcies? Layoffs? Foreclosures? Evictions? Inflation? (July 29, 2024), Au And Ag. To The Moon? PetroDollar Pact Expires? (June 10, 2024), So It Was The Red Sea And Credit Suisse. Who’s Counting? (Strait of Hormuz or Deutsche Bank? Deriving Derivatives (July 8, 2019)) (February 12, 2024) and China Invaded . . . And Won! Oh Well. (January 29, 2024) and in 2023 at Portentous Developments In 2022? (January 23, 2023), Counting Battered Bodies Badly. Oh, And Happy Valentine’s Day! (February 13, 2023), World War E / World War III Is 1 [9?] Year[s] Old This Week. Oh, And Happy Presidents’ Day! (February 20, 2023), The Two Great Geopolitical Elections: China in 2014-15; Russia in 2022-23 (March 20, 2023), Russia Is PLANet B! We Are Saved! (March 27, 2023) and World War I (18__ – 1918). World War II (19__ – 1945). Planetary Implosion l (Festering For Decades / 2022 – ____) Oh, And Happy Armistice Day! (November 6, 2023). Some of the economic, financial, political and social consequences of the transition are discussed at Special Edition. Deciphering Derivatives. Oh, And Happy Saint Patrick’s Day! (March 17, 2023), CBDC (Central Bank Digital Currencies): The End Of Freedom, Privacy, Dignity, Sovereignty And Humanity. And What Happens When AI (Artificial Intelligence) Takes Over Control Of CBDCs? (April 17, 2023), “De-Dollarization” Is The Word Of The Week. And The Development Of the Year. (April 24, 2023) and The Economic Equinox: Half Light; Half Dark? (September 25, 2023). Few understand what is happening; fewer are prepared for what is happening. Interesting times. Some of the lighter pieces two years ago glance at our follies, foibles and failures and also our hopes, dreams and successes. United States of America V. Thomas Jefferson: The Transcript (September 18, 2023), The Trenchant And Traumatic Hemingway (July 31, 2023) and others.
The “On [Traits / Characteristics]” Series acknowledges the father of the essay, Michel de Montaigne, who explored individual traits and personal characteristics. He shared personal ruminations and anecdotes about society in his celebrated collection Essais (e-ssais?). Earlier “e-ssays” on this site ruminate on respect, fear, admiration, irreverence, success, self-esteem, regret, standards/quality, loyalty, hypocrisy, honesty, empathy, joy, mudita, etc. In 2023, on concern was On Friendship Today: Flat, Fried, Frayed, Frazzled, Frozen, Fractured, Fissured, Fatigued, Finished? Oh, And Happy Thanksgiving! (November 20, 2023) in the current post-Covid climate.
The “Less Government Regulation” Series posits examples where government regulation may suffocate and free markets may suffice. An e-commentary in the series in 2009 advocates for regulation of Google/Alphabet in an economy that is now pockmarked by monopolization of every industry in America. Subsequent e-commentary challenges the overweening role of the Frightful Five – Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Google/Alphabet and Microsoft. A half dozen mega–banks and six media conglomerates control and manage our money and our minds. In an economy without any price discovery, the completion of the “General Theory of Economics” is forced into remission. The need for free markets is discussed at We Need Free Markets. Oh, And Happy Fourth! (July 3, 2023).
The “Boycott” Series suggests that readers treat dollars like votes in the marketplace and use them to support and reject policies and activities. An e-commentary in the series in 2008 proposed a boycott of Facebook because it and the other tech beasts and behemoths are not friendly. Boycotting the only supplier of an essential good or service is problematic and is addressed. An e-commentary in 2011 proposed boycotting big banks and depositing funds in and supporting local credit unions. An early e-commentary in 2006 implores the reader never to boycott and always to buy into the franchise, even if voting appears to and may be futile in a country with only one political party, the War and Wall Street Party. The notion of purposeful boycotting undergirds the discussion in Read, But Don’t Read (June 26, 2023).
The “First Monday In October” Series debuted in 2010 with a discussion of “strict constructionism/originalism” in the context of gun control that should resolve the debate over the proper paradigm for all and once. Subsequent e-commentary in the Fall series provides insight into the Supreme Court, courts and the state of the law, justice, crime and punishment in America. The emerging irrelevance and illegitimacy of the current Supreme Court is discussed for the first times in 2011 and then in 2012 and developed in subsequent e-commentary. Regular visits to the Supreme Court to observe the hired help further inform the analysis in the draft “Treatise on Law” now on hold. A few issues are discussed at The Government Stumbles; The Judicial Legislature Rumbles (October 2, 2023). Last year, some trends are noted in First Monday In October: Dos-à-dos (October 7, 2024). This year, Trump was in the news and at the Court during the First Monday In October (October 6, 2025).
The “Graduation Advice” Series is inspired by the national treasure “Wear Sunscreen” crafted by Mary Schmich and proposes pithy advices for graduates of school and participants in life. Advice was dispensed in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 (Graduation Advice: Transcend: Maintain FL 44; Make A Few Discrete Dives And Diversions To TPA (Traffic Pattern Altitude) (May 16, 2022)), 2023 (Graduation Advice: Find The First Amendment (May 15, 2023)), 2024 (Graduation Advice: Plant A Garden (May 13, 2024)) and 2025 (Graduation Advice: Do Something, Anything (Good) (May 12, 2025)).
The greatest threat to the Planet may be the threat to the Planet. However, the plausible challenges to the Anthropogenic Climate Change theory must be acknowledge and addressed. Posed and poised and poisoned by Man. [Wo]Man versus [Mother] Nature? Pl–as–ti–cs and plu–tonium versus People? Is Man the mortal enemy who must be contained by whatever means? Is a carbon fee and dividend program the long-shot market-based solution possibly capable of salvaging the vulnerable blue marble?
Over the years other e-commentary reviews everything from the human causes to the economic consequences of actions and inaction. e-commentary addresses everything from philosophy to foreign policy to domestic polity; from the intertwined 3Es (from energy to environment to economics); from war to war to war; from sports to technology to society; from race to class to gender; from guns to gold to the Great Wall of Canada; from war to war to a possible antidote to war; from newspapers to the press/media to journalism; from the First Amendment, to the Second Amendment, to the Third Amendment, to the Fourth Amendment, to the Eighth Amendment, to the Balanced Budget Amendment and to the Term Limits Amendment; and from A – (AIIB, CFETS, CIA, CIPS, FBI, FDIC, IMF, INE, LIBOR, MICAC, NATO, NPR, NSA, SDR, SWIFT, TARP, USA PATRIOT ACT, ZIRP) Z.
After considerable thought and development, the “Awards and Incentives Project” rolled out and now includes four annual awards with others under construction.
The “Cameo In Courage Award” challenges the award given by the establishment to other members of the establishment. Society needs an award that rewards those who are truly courageous. Awards were made in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 (Cameo In Courage Award Nominee: Julian Assange (January 31, 2022)), 2023 (Eighth Annual “Cameo In Courage” Award For 2023 (May 22, 2023)), 2024 (Ninth Annual “Cameo In Courage” Award For 2024 (May 20, 2024)) and 2025 (Tenth Annual “Cameo In Courage” Award For 2025 (March 31, 2025)).
The “Noble Prize In Eco-nomics” identifies those who develop and advance eco-nomic ideas to promote the public weal and the common good. The award serves as a challenge and counterpoise to the “Nobel Prize In E-con-omics” awarded by the Swedish Central Bank to those who advance ideas that promote the interests of the wealthy and well-connected. Awards were made in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 (Seventh Annual Noble Prize In Eco-nomics (October 10, 2022)), 2023 (Eighth Annual Noble Prize In Eco-nomics (October 16, 2023)), 2024 (Ninth Annual Noble Prize In Eco-nomics (October 14, 2024)) and 2025 (Tenth Annual Noble Prize In Eco-nomics (October 13, 2025)).
The “Noble Prize In Jurisprudence” celebrates the work of someone who really knows something about jurisprudence and the impact of courts, judges, lawyers and police on the lives and livelihoods of ordinary citizens. The award recognizes a person who or institution that lives the conviction that men and women should establish and respect some norms and standards that are promulgated clearly to all and enforced equally in favor of and against all. Awards were made in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 (Seventh Annual Noble Prize In Jurisprudence (October 17, 2022)), 2023 (Eighth Annual Noble Prize In Jurisprudence (October 23, 2023)), 2024 (Ninth Annual Noble Prize In Jurisprudence (October 21, 2024)) and 2025 (Tenth Annual Noble Prize In Jurisprudence (October 20, 2025)).
The “Pushitzer Prize In Commentary” honors inspiring and inspirational writing that does not necessarily reflect the dominant viewpoints and worldviews. Awards were made in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 (Seventh Annual Pushitzer Prize In Commentary For 2022 (May 9, 2022)), 2023 (Eighth Annual Pushitzer Prize In Commentary For 2023 (May 8, 2023)), 2024 (Ninth Annual Pushitzer Prize In Commentary For 2024 (May 6, 2024)) and 2025 (Tenth Annual Pushitzer Prize In Commentary For 2025 (May 5, 2025)).
The “Happy Day” pronouncements are a nod to a public event with, at times, a slightly wry twist and, hopefully, sans sarcasm or scorn.
e-commentary provided first–hand on–the–ground dispatches from the March for Women, the March for Science, the March For Our Lives and the April 19 March. Lists of the clever and inspiring signs sported by participants are noted. We march on.
The requisite moving and stirring memoir is now available. The book tour is still not yet booked. However, although “Analog Knowledge Devices (“AKD”)” will soon be worth their weight in gold, this production saves paper and is only available e-lectronically.
Over the years, a menagerie of speakers and characters such as “A” / “B” and “GO1 [Gun Owner1]” / “GO2 [Gun Owner2]” and “3” / “6” / “9” among others debuted and debated issues. In recent years, “J” and “K” emerged as the primary characters in the ongoing dialogue and debate. The events of the last five years have bitterly divided the two of them, however the recent antics of the Supreme Court have “J” and “K” back on the same page on some issues.
The “Bumper sticker of the week” started out as a spoof on the shallow and callow “bumper sticker” nature of our public discourse and became the playful signature sign off concluding each piece every week.
Looking back, the undertaking is an extended serialized novel about life on this planet and the American experience presented in a series of weekly poems developed through dialogue that allows all of us in some small way possibly to . . . immanentize the eschaton.
. . .
Bumper stickers of the week:
What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not possibly succeed under any circumstances?
“Do. Or do not do. There is no try.” Yoda [Yet this confident attitude precludes critical risk-taking necessary for one to succeed at a long-shot undertaking.]
“Not being heard is no reason for silence.” Victor Hugo, Les Misérables
“It doesn’t require many words to speak the truth.” Chief Joseph
Otter: “I think this situation absolutely requires a really futile and stupid gesture be done on somebody’s part.” Bluto: “We’re just the guys to do it.” “Animal House” (1978)
“It is clear that thought is not free if the profession of certain opinions makes it impossible to earn a living. It is clear also that thought is not free if all the arguments on one side of a controversy are perpetually presented as attractively as possible, while the arguments on the other side can only be discovered by diligent search.” Bertrand Russell, Skeptical Essays
“Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigues of supporting it.” Thomas Paine
“The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane.” Marcus Aurelius
“You do not merely want to be considered just the best of the best. You want to be considered the only one who does what you do.” Jerry Garcia
Think big, think long.
e-commentary 
Revisiting Cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, Etc. And Now Stablecoin (November 3, 2025)
Posted in Bitcoin, Cryptocurrency, Digital, Legal Disclaimer for e-commentary, Stablecoin on November 3, 2025 by e-commentary.org. . .
K “I have tried everything to avoid reaching a conclusion that goes against a growing orchestrated chorus of vociferous support. There is no way to avoid it. Bitcoin, Etc. is digital fiat. Fiat is fatal.”
J “No question. Bitcoin, Etc. is a great fraud and a grand scam. It is reflective of where we are as a country and as a society. Everything is mirrors and smoke and smoke and mirrors.”
. . .
K “Fifteen years ago or so, I met with some of the motley band of libertarians and anarchists who liked the shine of Bitcoin, Etc. They found a new passion and purpose in life. In our conversations at the monthly Tuesday night ‘Bitcoin Boosters’ rally, they could not really establish that it was a medium of exchange or a store of value or a unit of account, but they were tickled that it was a bold and blatant rejection of the establishment. I was intrigued. I listened.”
J “And now Bitcoin, Etc. has been co-opted by the Kleptocrats and the Plutocrats who have no interest in co-ops or cooperation. Bitcoin, Etc. is a story laced with irony and absurdity and surreality.”
K “A currency must be backed by a bayonet. The stateless nature of Bitcoin, Etc. lacks a bayonet to compel others to accept it.”
. . .
K “Money on some level is a store of energy. However, the very act of ‘mining’ Bitcoin, Etc. requires one to undertake a futile and useless waste of energy. No good is produced and no service is performed.”
J “There is something ironic and absurd and surreal about the process. The ‘proof of work’ is really a proof of stupidity and futility. The mandatory mathematical machinations are mindless manipulations.”
. . .
K “What was once thought to be a private exchange is now on the radar. The IRS requires a taxpayer to disclose merely owning Bitcoin, Etc. on one’s annual tax return. No other asset must be disclosed. Those in power know.”
J “Yet the ordinary citizen who tries to sell a Bitcoin, Etc. has no idea how the sale process unfurls and unfolds. Everyone on the inside creates more arcane steps and stops along the way before a Bitcoin, Etc. can be converted into . . . drum roll . . . filthy fiat currency.”
. . .
K “The zealots believe that the number of ‘coins’ will be capped at 21 million. Human experience teaches differently. Caps are always exceeded; a temporary measure always becomes a permanent fixture. When 21 million ‘coins’ are concocted, more ‘coins’ will be ‘mined’ by ‘forking’ or some other shenanigans.”
J “And an individual who is not satisfied has no rights and no remedies and no recourse against anyone or any entity or anything. Someone can only punch into the darkness.”
. . .
K “Some old ‘sound money advocates’ have decided there is profit in Bitcoin, Etc. and now treat it and tout it as the new sound money. Call me immediately skeptical of anyone who alleges that Bitcoin, Etc. is sound money. I maintain a list of its zealots because one’s attitude toward Bitcoin, Etc. is a very stark candid reveal.”
J “I am not skeptical. It is unsound money in a world of unsound money.”
. . .
J “And when the lights go out, the lights go out and Bitcoin, Etc. goes dark.”
K “The zealots state that it makes the transfer of money across borders easier. Some of the transfers appear to be for illegal activity.”
. . .
K “The big players behind Bitcoin, Etc. know that they have enough political stroke to bail out the big players when the cards collapse.”
J “The digital game is no different than the analog game. We cannot even claim to have a functioning capitalist system when all the losses of the big players are socialized and all the consequences for the little people are ruthlessly capitalized.”
. . .
K “So Stablecoin is some mysterious miasmi that weds Bitcoin, Etc. and Treasuries in a way that satisfies those in power who must maintain the relevance of Treasuries in the economic and political system. Those behind Stablecoin have allied with the government and thereby fixed their bayonet. The government gets almost absolute control out of what is effectively a Non-Central Bank Digital Currency (N-CBDC) with the big players still running and controlling the economy.”
J “Is it really ‘stable’ and is it a ‘coin’? Who knows what it really is. More smoke. More mirrors.”
. . .
K “I do not dispute that the blockchain technology is one of the major building blocks of the future.”
. . .
J “The big players will make great fortunes. Once again and without fail, the little people will pay to fund the casino and will lose in the end.”
. . .
[See the e-commentary at “Bitcoin”, “Ethereum” . . . “Blockchain Technology” Say What? (July 3, 2017) and Monkeying Around With Cryptocurrency: Pumping And Dumping And Monkey Hammering The Villagers (February 27, 2023).]
Bumper stickers of the week:
Use of e-commentary is at your own risk. In no event is e-commentary or any affiliated party liable for any direct or indirect economic, trading or financial losses caused by any information on this site. You agree to do your own research and due diligence and consult your own financial, legal and tax advisors before making any investment decision with respect to transacting in any securities or other possible investments. This is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security or investment. Nor is or shall any security or investment be offered or sold to any person in any jurisdiction in which such offer would be unlawful under the securities laws of such jurisdiction. e-commentary is not registered as an investment advisor in the United States nor does it have similar registration in any other jurisdiction. To the best of e-commentator’s ability and belief, all information contained herein is accurate and reliable and has been obtained from public sources believed to be accurate and reliable. The public sources are not insiders or connected persons of the stock or investments covered herein or who may otherwise owe any fiduciary duty or duty of confidentiality to the issuer. However, the information and e-commentary is presented “as is,” without warranty of any kind whether express or implied. e-commentary makes no representation, express or implied, as to the accuracy, timeliness, or completeness of any such information or with regard to the results to be obtained from its use. All expressions of opinion are subject to change without notice. e-commentary does not undertake to update or supplement this site or any of the information contained herein.
In sum, please DO your own research, MAKE UP your own mind and OWN your own bloody consequences! Thanks. Do enjoy.
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