What Bitcoin Did
#138 – Steve Baker – The Structural Failure of Government
AI Summary
Former Conservative MP Steve Baker argues that Britain’s systemic failure stems from a self‑reinforcing political machine that rewards power without accountability, leading to declining living standards and growing voter powerlessness. He highlights how incentives in politics, unchecked money flows, and over‑governance erode liberty and fuel extremism, while suggesting that opting out or superficial reforms won’t fix the root problems. Baker’s perspective, shaped by his insider experience, stresses that meaningful change requires confronting entrenched incentives and resetting the system, though he warns that any solution will be painful and uncertain.
Episode Description
Steve Baker is a former Conservative MP who spent years inside the machinery of British politics.
In this interview, he explains why Britain feels broken. We talk about falling living standards, a political system that keeps failing without consequence and why so many voters feel completely powerless to change anything. We also explore how a system can continue to function while delivering worse outcomes year after year.
We also discuss the problem of power without limits, money without restraint and what happens to democracy when nothing fundamental can be challenged and no one is ever held to account.
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 – Introduction
01:35 – Why Britain "Isn't Working"
03:17 – How the System Drifted Off the Rails
09:23 – The Real Incentive in Politics
11:10 – "You Get the Government You Deserve"
14:16 – Why Staying Home Changes Nothing
17:37 – Why MPs Fear Accountability
21:21 – The Collapse in Living Standards
23:06 – The Money Problem
26:44 – Bitcoin, Gold & Escaping the System
31:04 – Why Extremism Is Rising
34:51 – Liberty vs Control
40:22 – Britain Is Over-Governed
43:47 – There Is No Painless Way Out
47:51 – Why Politicians Kick the Can
50:08 – How Division Is Manufactured
57:00 – Why Politics Attracts the Wrong People
59:38 – Why Opting Out Fails
1:10:10 – Can the System Be Reset?
1:19:09 – Hope vs Reality
1:22:39 – Final Warnings
CONTACT PETE
› Website – http://petermccormack.com
› Feedback – https://www.petermccormack.com/contact
› Email – me@petermccormack.com
› Instagram – /mccormack555
› X/Twitter – https://x.com/petermccormack/
CONNECT WITH STEVE BAKER
› Website – https://www.stevebaker.info/
› Twitter – @SteveBakerFRSA
SPONSORS
› IREN - https://www.iren.com/
› Ledger - https://www.ledger.com/
› Gemini - https://gemini.com/
LISTEN / SUBSCRIBE
› Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/40ruY9K
› Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3Wc94Vu
› Fountain: https://bit.ly/FountainPM
› YouTube: https://bit.ly/YouTube_PM
› Rumble: https://bit.ly/RumblePM
FILMED BY CURTIS TAYLOR
› https://www.curttaylor.co.uk/
› https://x.com/curttayloruk/
EDITED BY CONOR MCCORMACK
› https://x.com/ConorM04
Show Notes
Steve Baker is a former Conservative MP who spent years inside the machinery of British politics.
In this interview, he explains why Britain feels broken. We talk about falling living standards, a political system that keeps failing without consequence and why so many voters feel completely powerless to change anything. We also explore how a system can continue to function while delivering worse outcomes year after year.
We also discuss the problem of power without limits, money without restraint and what happens to democracy when nothing fundamental can be challenged and no one is ever held to account.
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TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 – Introduction 01:35 – Why Britain "Isn't Working" 03:17 – How the System Drifted Off the Rails 09:23 – The Real Incentive in Politics 11:10 – "You Get the Government You Deserve" 14:16 – Why Staying Home Changes Nothing 17:37 – Why MPs Fear Accountability 21:21 – The Collapse in Living Standards 23:06 – The Money Problem 26:44 – Bitcoin, Gold & Escaping the System 31:04 – Why Extremism Is Rising 34:51 – Liberty vs Control 40:22 – Britain Is Over-Governed 43:47 – There Is No Painless Way Out 47:51 – Why Politicians Kick the Can 50:08 – How Division Is Manufactured 57:00 – Why Politics Attracts the Wrong People 59:38 – Why Opting Out Fails 1:10:10 – Can the System Be Reset? 1:19:09 – Hope vs Reality 1:22:39 – Final Warnings
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CONTACT PETE › Website – http://petermccormack.com › Feedback – https://www.petermccormack.com/contact › Email – me@petermccormack.com › Instagram – /mccormack555 › X/Twitter – https://x.com/petermccormack/
CONNECT WITH STEVE BAKER › Website – https://www.stevebaker.info/ › Twitter – @SteveBakerFRSA
SPONSORS › IREN - https://www.iren.com/ › Ledger - https://www.ledger.com/ › Gemini - https://gemini.com/
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
LISTEN / SUBSCRIBE › Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/40ruY9K › Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3Wc94Vu › Fountain: https://bit.ly/FountainPM › YouTube: https://bit.ly/YouTube_PM › Rumble: https://bit.ly/RumblePM
FILMED BY CURTIS TAYLOR › https://www.curttaylor.co.uk/ › https://x.com/curttayloruk/
EDITED BY CONOR MCCORMACK › https://x.com/ConorM04
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