in order for government officials and executives to take Bitcoin seriously
This remember me the scene in the beginning of the movie The Scorpion King
I don't think about movies, I think about the fact that congressmen and corporate executive types not having a hand to shake helps them equate Bitcoin with that thing that criminals and gangsters use, and that thought process results in them wanting to take actions to hinder Bitcoin. I see Bitcoin as the currency of liberty, not anarchy.
I absolutely disagree. Bitcoin doesn't need government officials and executives in any form. Specially the USA government (where the bitcoin foundation is placed). The power of bitcoin always have to be in the user base. Not in governments, foundations or selfdeclared core developers.
You are right if you're talking about the Bitcoin executable and code base, but not decentralized computerized money as an anthropological phenomenon. A foundation helps greatly if we are to help it achieve acceptance by law-abiding citizens sooner rather than later. If this will help the powers that be work with us instead of against us, why is this a bad thing?
First of all, let me start this by saying that your coins are fantastic
. Now, I don't care how many hands are there to shake.
Paypal will never like bitcoin. Visa will never like Bitcoin. The banks will never like Bitcoin. The ESTABLISHMENT will never like Bitcoin because they can't PROFIT from it, as they shouldn't. More over, Bitcoin is a direct threat to their bloodsucking structures they have in place. Let's not even mention inefficient and corrupt sovereign states like the US of A that need more and more tax to support the likes of their corporate pals.
Bitcoin will only be successful the day their community realizes that Bitcoin will NEVER be, and should NEVER be a mainstream product. This is why Satoshi was so particular about hiding his identity. He KNEW this. Perhaps it would refresh the memory's community to read the message Satoshi embedded on the genesis block.
This is like an ugly chick desperately begging for the popular guy to take her to prom. No matter how much make up, it won't fucking happen.
Perhaps I have a more orthodox view of what Bitcoin was intended to be, and what should be from the old (Satoshi) testament, but I firmly believe this.