What is a blockchain and why should I care?
“A blockchain is a growing list of records, called blocks, that are linked together using cryptography.[1][2][3][4] Each block contains a cryptographic hash of the previous block, a timestamp, and transaction data (generally represented as a Merkle tree). The timestamp proves that the transaction data existed when the block was published in order to get into its hash. As blocks each contain information about the block previous to it, they form a chain, with each additional block reinforcing the ones before it. Therefore, blockchains are resistant to modification of their data because once recorded, the data in any given block cannot be altered retroactively without altering all subsequent blocks.” … “The bitcoin design has inspired other applications[3][2] and blockchains that are readable by the public and are widely used by cryptocurrencies.“ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blockchain
There are different uses for blockchain in the health care industry the following is a discussion of its uses and potential uses. https://www.healthit.gov/sites/default/files/11-74-ablockchainforhealthcare.pdf
There are several applications for higher education. From the perspective of a former registrar “How we identify students; protect their privacy; measure, record, and credential their accomplishments; and keep these records secure” would be of primary importance. https://er.educaushttps://er.educause.edu/articles/2017/3/the-blockchain-revolution-and-higher-education
Applications in the public sector: “McKinsey Digital explains, from 2017, how federal, state, and local governments can use blockchain technology to ” protect trusted records and simplify interactions with citizens.” First, the article provides an overview of how blockchain technology works. Then, McKinsey Digital explains the positives and negatives of governments using blockchain technology. Potential benefits include: (1) increasing transparency by allowing citizens access to their personal data, (2) preventing alteration of vital records, (3) protecting personal information, (4) simplifying property ownership and incorporation contracts, and (5) allowing “public agencies to deliver networked services.” However, governments implementing blockchain technology may face challenges since the blockchain industry is changing and growing so quickly.” https://www.tsl.texas.gov/slrm/blog/2021/02/off-the-record-blockchain/
Digital assets — everything from money, stocks, bonds, and intellectual property to music, art, loyalty points, and student records — are not all stored in a central place: they’re distributed across a global ledger, using the highest level of cryptography. When a transaction is conducted, it is posted globally, across millions of computers. Around the world is a group of people called miners who have massive computing power at their fingertips — 10 to 100 times bigger than all of Google worldwide. Every 10 minutes, kind of like the heartbeat of a network, these miners assemble all the transactions from the previous 10 minutes into a block. Then the miners compete to solve a tough problem; whoever solves the problem gets to validate the block and receives some digital currency as a reward. In the case of the Bitcoin blockchain, the winner gets Bitcoin.” https://er.educause.edu/articles/2017/3/the-blockchain-revolution-and-higher-education
Why should I care about blockchain? My entire life can be recorded in the computer. One of the selling points of blockchain is that you the individual have control over your records? Do you really? How long will it be before the government tries to access your data for its use? The government will justify accessing your information for statistical data used for planning. It will justify the use to prevent fraud. What it really wants to do is know what its citizens are doing. In the movie Enemy of the State the plot evolves around surveillance of society. Computers utilizing blockchain can monitor society continuously.
President Biden has already tried to monitor financial transactions of citizens of the United States. In September 2021 there was a plan in place to increase the staff of the IRS and track financial transactions of six hundred dollars or more. https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/biden-tax-plan-irs-access-bank-account Apparently this is on the back burner for now.
The world is moving toward a one world order. This can be seen in global meetings pertaining to climate change, economy, oversight of aggressive governments, education, to name a few. All of this is expressed as being good for people. The United Nations facilitates many of these meetings which tries to gain consensus on what the world should look like and are the goals for the future.
A one world order would eventually lead to the Antichrist. The Bible has prophesied about this. People will be required to take the mark of the beast. Revelation 13:16-18 King James Version “16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.”
How will the beast be able to enforce his rule for buying and selling? He will need a tool that surveils people.
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