Topic: The Bitcoin Foundation needs to take a more active Public Role (Read 910 times)

I like this idea, check out this thread, same kinda ideas
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=193054.0;topicseen

The problem with the foundation, is the board members with there own ventures and have no time to properly build the foundation so it is to a level that it can do a lot more.

As much as people are against any sort of centralisation of Bitcoin, and lord knows no one wants a 'central bank of bitcoin', I believe, and I think many others will feel similarly, that it is time for the Bitcoin Foundation to take a more public and active roll in the promotion and development of Bitcoin.

This is not to say the Foundation is not doing anything, quite the contrary they are doing a great deal- but what I mean is that down here 'on the ground' in Bitcoin land things are a mess to put it politely. The incredible open source characteristics of Bitcoin are fantastic, but as the influx of new bit-coiners increases, and at a significant rate, our lack of infrastructure, references, and structure, is becoming a problem. Lack of an obvious 'central authority' if only from an informational point of view is fostering panic and insecurity for Bitcoin. Just as Gox-Lag (the lack of clear knowledge of the value of bitcoin) leads to panic crashing with the price, so does the lack of clear direction lead to a crisis of confidence in the community as a hole. Perhaps it sounds silly, but the community does indeed require a bit of herding.

We are past the point of a forum or mailing list alone being able to keep people reasonably and intelligently informed. Once again, I know no one wants a "central bank of bitcoin" or a "all powerful foundation", but I should think we don't want to be the currency equivalent of Somalia either, with fiefdoms centralising the power of exchanges which have little incentive other then short term profit.

What I propose is this, and forgive me if I am stepping on toes or repeating ideas that are already under discussion:

• Daily Updates from the Foundation
  
  I know this sounds like a lot of work but there should be a daily "broad sheet" summarising the notes or progress of the previous day. There can be included press updates, foundation business, day-to-days, etc.. I know it's a lot of work, but the foundation should hire a fleet of interns to do this. Pay them in Bitcoin.
• A Bitcoin Roadmap
  
  The foundation should spell out clearly the goals 1-6 months and 1-5 years down the line. They can be lofty or it can be realistic. This can be something people can contribute their input on as well. It can include both the protocol plans but also the non-protocol related plans as well.
• Bitcoin Missionaries
  
  The foundation should work to spread the word of Bitcoin. This should be an important primary activity and should have a full time team that works to contact businesses. I know the foundation works to speak with the press and raise awareness, but I think it should also be attending business conferences, payment systems conferences, technology conferences, world wide. Where people are speaking about technology and money, Bitcoin should be there as well.
• Politics and Lobbying
  As it begins to look like the political machine in a number of countries is gearing up to combat Bitcoin, the foundation should take an active role in reaching out to politicians and forming a Bitcoin lobbyist group. The banks have a lobbying group- why don't we?
• Community Outreach
  
  The Foundation should try to take a more active role in 'down here' in the forums. I know it has become a cesspool. I know it feels like a waste of time. But the sentiment of the community drives not only the price but the enthusiasm of the community. The community is in dire need of more direct contact from the Foundation, someone who speaks for Bitcoin. I'm not calling for a Captain, but this ship does need someone who steadies the rudder. Additionally the Foundation should have someone who actively reaches out to the numerous radio shows that pop-up: serious or not. Commenting on blogs, managing social media. Mt.Gox take note, a great deal of good will was burned on the sheer inability to reach out to the community. Yes this is a cesspool at times, but someone willing to take the heat is required.
  
• Addressing Alternative-Crypto currencies
  
  I know the foundation will address this at the conference as there will be an Alt-Coin panel (on which I will sit as well) but I think some serious attention needs to be paid to the up-coming alt-coins. Ignoring them or dismissing them out of hand is not productive and I truly believe that their exile from any official channels of discussion is creating a potential for the success of Bitcoin to be cannibalised from within. Mt.Gox has already announced coming support for Litecoin and potentially Namecoin. The Foundation needs to address this and bring the alt-coin crown into the fold, lest they grow from pump-and-dump scams to a legitimate threat to Bitcoin.

In closing, I do want to thank the Foundation for the work that they are doing. It is hard and working on the protocol itself is a job fit for a Fortune 500 Company. Perhaps it is time for growth in a dramatic and radical way. We don't need a central banker or a benevolent dictator, but perhaps we do need a strong wing to shelter under once and awhile.