Regarding a return of the gold standard: what would happen once it is admitted that the distribution of gold worldwide isn't close to what is currently reported officially? Remember when Canada foolishly attempted to audit its gold holdings and found that the actual deposits were far less ($15 million was the admisssion, but who knows for sure) than previously reported? The US hasn't had a gold audit since 1974 and in fact failed not only that audit but also the previous audit to that one in 1953: https://www.bullionstar.us/blogs/koos-jansen/us-government-lost-7-fort-knox-gold-audit-reports/

The USA has been on the"bullet standard" since 1971 and now it cannot even produce those. Gold standard? Maybe someday, but it won't be the current ruling class that to make that fateful decision.