Should we return to the gold standard?

We can't. There is not enough gold in the world.

I don't think there is enough gold in the entire world to back all of the currency that gets exchanged day to day in the world economy.

There is already too much paper money currently in circulation to return to the gold standard, but nonetheless I think it's a great idea. This economic recession is due partly to the fact that the federal government constantly spends beyond its means. If the federal reserve could not simply print money at will, our economy would stabilize in the long run.

well, the cold war is over. i think that we should go to a platinum standard.

i've heard the argument, however, for the floating point currency blah blah whateveritscalled and it seemed pretty convincing at the time. it think it has some real benefits. BUT i think that more of the burden should be shared by the euro.

i also read a paper by an economist who was trying to calculate the maximal efficiency circulation radius and the guy concluded that the whole world should be on one currency. that it would be the most efficient and the most stable.

I think we should use a fiat based on gold. Something substantial that tends to increase in value. We should look into our history to the days of our greatest financial success,and worst financial disasters to learn the lessons. Changes like this would best be done experimentally in States willing to pioneer in this field for a 10 year period. That would allow the country to make a decision informed by data rather than unbacked opinion.
+5

Id love to. Just give me gold and diamonds and I'll do a "Happy Dance" for you!
(sorry keithold!)

If we were to switch back to the gold standard it would be really hard to maintain the lifestyles that many of us enjoy; there simply would not be enough gold to support all of us.
Now that you mention it there are an awful lot of gold seeking commercials out there-maybe the gov is stock piling it so when they announce that we will be returning to the gold standard...

You can, Gordon Brown sold ours......