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Lots of hypotheticals here. The dollar has only become stronger over the last 20 years despite rumors of demise. So forgive me if I take this with a huge grain of salt.
I'm not saying it's gonna happen. Again my base case is USD becomes JPY 2. But if you're not banking on it being possible you're taking an irrational risk in my opinion.
Also the dollar is insanely weaker in real terms than 20 years ago. Anything with an actual backing would trample over it. The only question is whether the people emitting an alternative could survive the wrath of the US Army.
You're the only one. The dollar is stronger than ever against all other currencies, anything that takes the dollar down will mean the end of the financial world first.
In "real terms" it is stronger than ever compared to all other currency; if your talking about inflation which is normal, expected, sought after, and planned for, then yes, it has inflated, like it is supposed to, to keep money moving.
If you understand monetary policy at all you don't want something that never changes in value or deflates, that just leads to hoarding and doing nothing.
Unless you're some kind of silver/gold late night TV guy then this is all common knowledge.
Ah, an other private account so I don't even know where you're coming from on issues. TheMotte should do away with that feature.
All currencies except Bitcoin and gold. Non-fiat ways of storing wealth are all doing very well compared to the dollar. Why are equities priced so highly? Why are houses so expensive? Because the real value of each dollar is shrinking, purchasing power is shrinking.
This may come as a surprise to the 'monetary policy' community but things are supposed to get cheaper, not more expensive. New technology should improve production processes. TVs have gotten cheaper, as have computers. Even if technology is mature like burgers, it should stay roughly the same price, ceteris paribus. But a great many things have rapidly risen in price due to money-printing, which has caused considerable alarm amongst policymakers along with economic stress.
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