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Cryptocurrency Is the Next Frontier in the Quest to Abolish Cash Bail

injusticetoday.com

51–60 of 77 posts

Re: Cryptocurrency Is the Next Frontier in the Quest to Abolish Cash Bail

#51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It defaults to 25% CPU usage (and appears to be an electron app). Which I would've placed as greater than small. https://github.com/thenewinquiry/bailbloc/blob/401cb4f288d88... Concede the point that users would be making an informed (albeit minimally) decision.

That is false, it defaults to a maximum of 10% CPU usage, which I would've placed as small. https://github.com/thenewinquiry/bailbloc/blob/401cb4f288d88...

Awesome, 10% is small [though that miner is initially instantiated at 25% ;)].

Thanks for engaging in a friendly, respectful dialogue with links to source!

Re: Cryptocurrency Is the Next Frontier in the Quest to Abolish Cash Bail

#52
post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hilarious. Does he not realize how the fed works?

You're spot on in pointing that out. There is one problem with that however. The Federal Reserve system is directly supported by the economic output of the entire US and the taxing power of the US Government (it's further supported by the vast global demand for dollars and the dollar as the global reserve currency; that global reserve status can be further ensured by the US military). For example, if US budget defici…

Bitcoin's value is backed by its hashing power and all the resources required for that. Arguably a foundation just as valid (and more ethical) than a nation state's guns and bombs.

Re: Cryptocurrency Is the Next Frontier in the Quest to Abolish Cash Bail

#53
post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This uses the CPU, not the GPU. At current prices (depending on electricity price) it is more efficient to mine Monero than buy it outright, especially off an exchange (which incurs tx and trading costs).

Are you sure? If I'm reading this correctly https://whattomine.com/coins?utf8=%E2%9C%93&adapt_q_280x=0&a... A 1080Ti will mine 0.0396XMR every 24hours (yielding $4.71 at current prices). Presumably a CPU will fare significantly worse? Exchange fees and tx costs are negligible (especially compared to the variation in elec prices depending on where you live). Edit: as I understand it there's really no such thing as an…

For both CryptoNight (XMR) and DaggerHashimoto (ETH) you don't need that much computing power but fast RAM. CryptoNight needs relatively small amount of insanely fast memory (eg. CPU L2/L3 cache), while DaggerHashimoto requires large precomputed dataset for mining (stored in GPU's RAM) which is designed such that it is not necessary to verify single hash. The overreaching idea is that the price of hypothetical ASIC miner is more dependent on RAM prices than on random-logic prices.

Re: Cryptocurrency Is the Next Frontier in the Quest to Abolish Cash Bail

#54

Classic silicon valley-like thinking. Try to "disrupt" a system without understanding what it is for and why it was designed the way it was. Bail is designed to prevent flight risk. It is set high enough that you'd have a hard time coming up with that much money without being forced to stay and appear. Having strangers pay your bail means you have no reason to stay. It makes bail jumping more likely. People having a…

The org that is running this has actually been around for a few years already (and is not a SV tech company) and has a 90% non-flight rate. So presumably they don't just randomly select people and actually evaluate who they're going to post bail for.

This stunt seems more like a way to market for donations. Agree that it's unlikely to generate much, and the electricity cost means it'd be way more efficient to just donate money directly.

Certainly a legislative solution to the injustices around bail is the right way to go, but I'm not holding my breath for something like that any time soon. Hopefully orgs like this are just an interim, stopgap measure, though.

Re: Cryptocurrency Is the Next Frontier in the Quest to Abolish Cash Bail

#55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

True, but it's more likely they're guilty. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conviction_rate#cite_note-5

oh dear. the presumption of innocence is an international human right. justice-by-statistics is an extremely bad idea.

At the core of this is the old, philosophical question of, "Is it better to let one hundred criminals go free if it means not wrongfully convicting one innocent man?"

Considering that we are talking about bail (meaning 1-2 weeks in jail, not a lifetime in prison) and we have justice systems that are right 80-90% of the time, I lean towards the more pragmatic statistical approach.

The "internationally recognized human right" thing seems like a thought terminating cliche, not sure why that should be the end of the discussion.

Re: Cryptocurrency Is the Next Frontier in the Quest to Abolish Cash Bail

#56
post #53
post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are you sure? If I'm reading this correctly https://whattomine.com/coins?utf8=%E2%9C%93&adapt_q_280x=0&a... A 1080Ti will mine 0.0396XMR every 24hours (yielding $4.71 at current prices). Presumably a CPU will fare significantly worse? Exchange fees and tx costs are negligible (especially compared to the variation in elec prices depending on where you live). Edit: as I understand it there's really no such thing as an…

For both CryptoNight (XMR) and DaggerHashimoto (ETH) you don't need that much computing power but fast RAM. CryptoNight needs relatively small amount of insanely fast memory (eg. CPU L2/L3 cache), while DaggerHashimoto requires large precomputed dataset for mining (stored in GPU's RAM) which is designed such that it is not necessary to verify single hash. The overreaching idea is that the price of hypothetical ASIC m…

Didn't know that. Super interesting, thanks.

Re: Cryptocurrency Is the Next Frontier in the Quest to Abolish Cash Bail

#57

Classic silicon valley-like thinking. Try to "disrupt" a system without understanding what it is for and why it was designed the way it was. Bail is designed to prevent flight risk. It is set high enough that you'd have a hard time coming up with that much money without being forced to stay and appear. Having strangers pay your bail means you have no reason to stay. It makes bail jumping more likely. People having a…

Bails in most major cities are a scam.

I had a $0 bail for a misdemeanor (first time offense). Then two former federal prosecutors got involved in my case and had the Judge revoke my bail and set it for $75,000.

I spent 5 weeks in LA County jail trying to fight my case until I gave in, brutalized by the conditions and the endless fake court appearances (dry runs). The people that work in that industry are dangerous, deluded and wreak havoc in communities.

I feel so much empathy for the hundreds of thousands of LA inmates who are unfairly subjugated to such a system. It is perpetuating chaos, gangs and fractured lives.

The FBI has video surveillance cameras in all the jails because of police abuse and the former Sheriff is heading to federal prison.

I commend any group trying to fight for reform. LA's problems are directly tied to malicious and excessive policing, bails and boilerplate plea deals.

Re: Cryptocurrency Is the Next Frontier in the Quest to Abolish Cash Bail

#58
post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm sure this won't be a popular opinion on a website where most people probably make close to 100k but bail would be a lot more fair if it were based on total income.

Typical bails are so small already that I can't seem to get riled up over this particular "injustice". An assault and battery charge will generally get you a $10K bail. Assuming the typical bondsman charges 10%, that's a measly $1,000 to be walking the streets again after assaulting someone. I can already hear the stampede of justice troopers coming to tell me that $1,000 of emergency funds is too much to ask of your…

So, 2 weeks of wage income is a fair price to pay before you even face your accuser?

Re: Cryptocurrency Is the Next Frontier in the Quest to Abolish Cash Bail

#59

Classic silicon valley-like thinking. Try to "disrupt" a system without understanding what it is for and why it was designed the way it was. Bail is designed to prevent flight risk. It is set high enough that you'd have a hard time coming up with that much money without being forced to stay and appear. Having strangers pay your bail means you have no reason to stay. It makes bail jumping more likely. People having a…

Maybe it's you who is doing Silicon Valley thinking, ranting at length about something you are wholly uninformed about.

https://brooklynbailfund.org/

Re: Cryptocurrency Is the Next Frontier in the Quest to Abolish Cash Bail

#60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So, how well does that theory match reality? Does it actually in practice prevent flight, or does it just fuck over people who can't pay?

Well, it DOES prevent flight. Does it do it in the best way possible? Probably no. But it does prevent flight. You cannot flee if you're stuck in jail. Like I said. This is a problem that need to be solved legislatively, not by paying others' bail inefficiently.

No one's interested in hearing why their real-world solutions aren't as good as your theoretical non-solution.
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