Topic: Financial Surveillance

CBDCs are expected to be marketed as "inclusive" and "convenient" to lure the public into a system where the government can dictate how and when money is spent. To combat this, individuals are encouraged to build local communities through platforms like Craigslist and to learn the mechanics of cryptocurrencies. Maintaining self-sovereignty requires a move away from the convenience of modern financial apps.

The proposed $3.5 trillion spending plan includes a $79 billion funding increase for the Internal Revenue Service. Jordan Schachtel argues this expansion is intended to facilitate a massive financial surveillance tool, requiring banks to report transactions over $600. The discussion compares this to the IRS's 2020 budget of approximately $12 billion, suggesting the new resources will be used to monitor every citizen's financial activity.