Early internet skepticism stemmed from a variety of factors, including concerns about its practicality, accessibility, and impact on society. Here's a summary of some key points:

●Clifford Stoll, a prominent internet skeptic, famously argued in Newsweek that the internet wouldn't replace established institutions like newspapers, teachers, and salespeople. He viewed the internet as an "unedited wasteland" of information, difficult to navigate and lacking in reliable sources. Stoll also expressed concerns about the internet's potential to isolate people, replacing real-world interactions with virtual substitutes.

●Usability Concerns: In the 1990s, the internet was still a relatively new and unfamiliar technology for many. Its text-based interfaces and slow connection speeds made it difficult to use.

●Fear of Spam and Security Risks: Early internet users worried about spam, computer viruses, and the potential for fraud and identity theft. Concerns about the security of personal information shared online contributed to skepticism.

●Doubts About Mass Adoption: Some experts, like Waring Partridge, doubted the internet's ability to achieve widespread adoption. They believed retraining millions of people to use the internet would be a significant obstacle.

●Underestimating Potential: Many, like comedian Marc Maron, dismissed the internet as "hype", failing to see its potential beyond a limited scope. They saw computers primarily as toys rather than essential tools for communication and information access.

These skeptics, although ultimately proven wrong in many ways, raised valid concerns about the internet's early limitations. Their perspectives highlight the challenges of predicting the impact of emerging technologies, particularly before they reach maturity and widespread adoption.

When paper money was introduced in liberal democracies in the 18th century, there was strong concern among formitable thinkers like Bruke, Hume, Jefferson, and others, who feared that the adoption of fiat currency would undermine the moral and economic fabric of society. This podcast dives into the historical debates surrounding the introduction of paper money, exploring how these intellectuals warned of inflation, financial instability, and the erosion of trust in monetary systems. We’ll examine their arguments, the political and economic contexts of the time, and how their predictions align—or conflict—with the realities of modern fiat economies.

Henry Ford, the founder of Ford Motor Company, proposed a radical idea in 1921: replacing the gold-backed currency system with one based on "energy currency." He believed that gold was a source of conflict and that a currency tied to a nation's natural resources, like the energy produced by the Muscle Shoals hydroelectric plant in Alabama, would lead to greater global stability and peace. He argued that this system would break the control of international bankers and create a more equitable distribution of wealth.

Though Ford's idea did not gain traction at the time, it foreshadowed the emergence of Bitcoin, a cryptocurrency that relies on energy-intensive mining processes to create new units. Bitcoin, like Ford’s vision, is decentralized and derives its value from the energy expended in its creation. While there are practical challenges to implementing energy-backed currencies, Bitcoin's existence serves as a modern manifestation of Ford's century-old idea and prompts a reevaluation of traditional financial systems.