hypothes.is

Dan Whaley was involved in e-commerce as early as 1994 with his startup GetThere, which eventually led to Travelocity.com.  He is seeking funds for a new programming project to help determine the reliability of our sources for information. I've already donated some money to the effort, and I've registered my username at the project's website.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/dwhly/1239089754 (donate here)
http://hypothes.is/ (learn more and register here)

I have written previously about the need for computer assisted epistemology to help us organize our thoughts and opinions to reach the kernels of truth within them. I have also written previously about Kickstarter, the website that helps funnel money into creative projects. Just yesterday, I wrote about the need to verify our sources of information.

I'm pleased that these discussions have collided at a useful intersection.  :)

Why I Occupy

In the summer of 2011, I was unable to get a loan for a $35,000 house. I earn $20,000 per year. The loan officer calculated that monthly costs would be LOWER than my current rent. The officer would not accept my parents' co-signature on the loan, because the bank did not doubt my ability to pay. The bank just would not offer a loan to me.

I view debt as a serious obligation to be endorsed only rarely. I have been so successful at living my life without debt that two rating agencies could not even give me a credit score. When banks deny home loans that are clearly affordable and without any specific proof of risk, then our system is in need of significant change.

I want my protest to accomplish these specific goals:

1. Abandonment of exponential money supply
2. Separation of corporation and state
3. Elimination of victimless crimes, including decriminalization of poverty
4. Right to personal privacy, and right to public scrutiny of government
5. Reform of trademark, copyright, and patent law
6. Criminalization of resource depletion ("eating the seed stock")
7. Legislation based upon evidence not dogma
8. Voting reform such as ranked choice ballots, open source technology, and public financing

I think that the most immediate threat to our nation is the ballooning debt. Our banking system requires this debt to continue growing (exponential money) or else the economy collapses. I favor returning to the gold standard or some other supply of money based on material resources so that money represents actual finite wealth.  Oversimplified: "End The Fed".

I want my protest to propagate these general principles:

1. Humanity should work in harmony with natural systems rather than in denial of them.
2. Civilization should foster creative collaboration rather than exploitative greed.
3. Government should serve people rather than corporations.

I am the 99%.  I eat, talk, and sleep amongst the occupiers at Minneapolis.

(Exponential money: http://www.chrismartenson.com/crashcourse , sections 3, 7, and 8.)