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US judge halts government effort to monitor crypto mining energy use

theguardian.com

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Re: US judge halts government effort to monitor crypto mining energy use

#31

Post by office_drone »

gwbas1c wrote: post #11
anoncow wrote: post #4

[flagged]

Because that's the point of government: To govern. Edit: We don't always let people pay "market price" for whatever they want. There's plenty of precedent for rationing: IE, In CA, it doesn't matter how rich you are, you can't water your lawn in a drought. During the 1970s oil embargo, it didn't matter how rich you were, you still had to ration gasoline. In this case, cryptocurrency is both increasing the cost of ele…

Good governance doesn't always mean doing something instead of nothing.

Re: US judge halts government effort to monitor crypto mining energy use

#32

Post by NovemberWhiskey »

ToucanLoucan wrote: post #18
justrealist wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Filling out any form for the federal government is actually a big deal, because you incur huge legal liability by being wrong (criminal, if they decide you were lying). Submitting regulatory documents goes through a lot of legal review for a reason, you can't just "spitball" the numbers.

Baloney. Any government form I've filled out gives that vibe, sure. And then when you're wrong, you don't get a fucking prison sentence, you get a phone call where someone explains why they think you're wrong and asks you to take a stab at it. Also, every form from the Government I've ever filled out that is binding in terms of accuracy goes out of it's way, where you sign (which this one, to my looking, I don't even…

>I, personally, as a citizen of both the United States and the larger world would very much like to know how much energy is being pissed away on crypto nonsense.

I would like to know that too, but I also want my government to adhere to the laws which govern how it can generate paperwork and force me to incur compliance costs.

So let's have both, huh?

Re: US judge halts government effort to monitor crypto mining energy use

#33

Post by ToucanLoucan »

sackfield wrote: post #28

It's weird that people are acting like commodities are under some sort of license when they are purchased. As far as I know they aren't. A world that tries to regulate this scares me more than one where people participate in futile hashing.

I think it's a perfectly reasonable thing to begin considering. It's clear that the markets by themselves are not capable of addressing various concerns about our planet's limited resources. If we want our society to remain viable long term, we need to start being smart with how much of any given commodity is committed to how much of any given effort.

A new one, to be sure, and worth scrutinizing as we begin. But the market has demonstrated quite clearly it can't be trusted to manage finite resources.

Re: US judge halts government effort to monitor crypto mining energy use

#34

Post by NovemberWhiskey »

charonn0 wrote: post #8

As I read it[1], the plaintiffs allege that the government has overstepped its authority by using emergency powers to make new demands for information under threat of prosecution. There is a plausible argument for that position, and so a TRO is appropriate while the questions are resolved. [1]: https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24440902-cryptoenerg...

That is exactly right.

Re: US judge halts government effort to monitor crypto mining energy use

#35

Post by mistrial9 »

alsetmusic wrote: post #15
pton_xd wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Usually the government conducts periodic surveys to analyze energy usage across major industries, eg [0], [1], [2], etc. What's so exceptional about this industry? I would think a survey would be very straightforward. The only input is energy! [0] https://www.eia.gov/consumption/manufacturing/ [1] https://www.bls.gov/cex/cecomparison/recs_profile.htm [2] https://www.nass.usda.gov/Surveys/Guide_to_NASS_Surveys/Ag_R...

> What's so exceptional about this industry? Perhaps that a large portion of the population considers the market a grift? Perhaps that a large portion of the population has anxiety about climate change? I don't want people burning (huge amounts of) energy for nothing, but that's just me.

ok - why is the US Fed following the PRC and building a "one owner" Federal Crypto Currency then ?

Re: US judge halts government effort to monitor crypto mining energy use

#36

Post by babypuncher »

charonn0 wrote: post #8

As I read it[1], the plaintiffs allege that the government has overstepped its authority by using emergency powers to make new demands for information under threat of prosecution. There is a plausible argument for that position, and so a TRO is appropriate while the questions are resolved. [1]: https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24440902-cryptoenerg...

Another case of something being done for the right reason, but in the wrong way because our legislative branch refuses to lift a finger.

Re: US judge halts government effort to monitor crypto mining energy use

#37

Post by mistrial9 »

unethical_ban wrote: post #23
anoncow wrote: post #4

[flagged]

Power is as important to society as water and food, and it is limited, particularly in Texas during extreme weather events. Understanding utilization and being able to restrict non-essential usage during a crisis is the prerogative of government.

a Federal Government has unlimited time, lots of money and personnel, and the ability to immunize itself when it makes serious mistakes. Comments here that want new powers for government are unaware or uncaring about how horribly wrong that can go, and for how long.

Re: US judge halts government effort to monitor crypto mining energy use

#39

Post by unethical_ban »

mistrial9 wrote: post #37
unethical_ban wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Power is as important to society as water and food, and it is limited, particularly in Texas during extreme weather events. Understanding utilization and being able to restrict non-essential usage during a crisis is the prerogative of government.

a Federal Government has unlimited time, lots of money and personnel, and the ability to immunize itself when it makes serious mistakes. Comments here that want new powers for government are unaware or uncaring about how horribly wrong that can go, and for how long.

Comments here that want Bitcoin mining operations to take precedence over hospitals and water pump stations in a crisis are unaware or uncaring about how horribly wrong that can go, and for how long.

Re: US judge halts government effort to monitor crypto mining energy use

#40

Post by mywittyname »

babypuncher wrote: post #36
charonn0 wrote: post #8

As I read it[1], the plaintiffs allege that the government has overstepped its authority by using emergency powers to make new demands for information under threat of prosecution. There is a plausible argument for that position, and so a TRO is appropriate while the questions are resolved. [1]: https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24440902-cryptoenerg...

Another case of something being done for the right reason, but in the wrong way because our legislative branch refuses to lift a finger.

This is really it. A dysfunctional Congress serves to empower the Executive. And the Judicial branch only serves as a check so long as the Executive cares to follow their rulings.

This isn't just a problem if we get a malicious Executive either. If judges keep saying the Executive doesn't have some power unless Congress acts, and Congress continues to not act, then the Executive might be put in a position where they have to ignore judicial rulings in order to govern. Technically Congress can impeach, but a dysfunctional Congress isn't likely to get that one done.

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