OK, so I'm going to highly overgeneralize here, and will primarily be using Bitcoin and Ethereum as frames of reference.
A block chain is basically a network of computers that all agree on the state of a linked list database that basically is append-only.
There's some game theory that keeps all the computers basically following the same ruleset of how more blocks (sets of new transactions) get created and propagated to everyone in the network.
Smart contracts are just code baked into the block chain that a network node can run and get a result. All these "items" and things are just resulting computations of the contract. I think these are cool because we can make the money programmable in some very limited ways.
You're also right to be skeptical of other points of centralization and how they get overlooked.
Where is the use? Because you're right, having a large network of computers maintaining and continually syncing a redundant data set that can't be tampered with is significantly harder than a sql database. Well, you have to trust the database maintainer that they didn't do anything suspicious, and banks are incredibly suspect institutions. Well, what about cash? That works, but it's highly impractical for the internet age. With a crypto wallet, you can have internet money you have full control (and responsibility) over.
It has some niche use cases it is great for like cross border remitences.
You don't become a billionaire without exploiting so many people and then hording those riches to yourself. You've already been corrupted by that point.
And receive 0.01 🙃
localStorage is a thing, don't need cookies for browser state
Anyone else smell burnt popcorn?
I feel like this post sent me two and a half weeks closer to death.
Restructure society to value cooperatation over competition.
Break down unjustifiable hierarchies where possible and reasonable. The flatter the power structure is without sacrificing much in the way of efficiency, the better.
Probably on the "sparingly" end. As long as you're opting for composition over inheritance, it's probably fine.
People might not be passionate about sewer maintenance, but they are about having working sewage disposal. And hey, those shitty jobs in this dynamic are valued more highly because most don't want to do it. I think that's a good thing.
I mean sure, but what we have now are people not sharing the fruits of other people's labor. Your favorite billionaire did not earn that wealth through their own labor.
Being in favor or support of the status quo is also pushing an ideology.