>The US dollar hasn't been backed by anything since 1971 and is still ticking strong.
I think you might be overstating. The US dollar is not backed by an asset because it is an asset. At this point, the dollar is backed by the government, the government's authority, its military power, and the future value of its debt. That is not gold, but it is not nothing either.
I think you might be overstating. The US dollar is not backed by an asset because it is an asset. At this point, the dollar is backed by the government, the government's authority, its military power, and the future value of its debt. That is not gold, but it is not nothing either.