That just isn't true at all. Let's use the 1916-1930 silver quarter. To equal the face value of 25 cents, the price of silver would have to be $1.38 an ounce. It never even came close in that period, so the quarter never contained "25 cents worth of silver at the time it was minted." In 1920, a silver quarter contained only 12 cents worth of silver. The face value was still 25 cents, so the quarter was worth 25 cents, whatever the price of silver was.
The silver price in 1920 was 65 cents an ounce; 25 cents bought the equivalent of $2.91 in 2013. The silver price was 34 cents an ounce in 1940; 25 cents bought the equivalent of $4.15 in 2013. The silver price was 91 cents an ounce in 1960; 25 cents bought the equivalent of $1.96 in 2013. There was no relationship between purchasing power and the price of silver.
We've already been through inflation several times and you were proven dreadfully wrong.
The fact that $1 buys less now than it did in 1960 is only meaningful if the purchasing power of a person is actually less than it was in 1960. The median income in 1960 was $5,600; the median income now is more like $50,000. Sure, bread was 22 cents in 1960, but let's so some quick math on that. $50,000 / $5,600 = 8.93. 22 cents x 8.93 = $1.96. If you tell me bread is $3-4 a loaf now, I'm going to tell you that you're crazy, because I was just at the grocery store. I pay less than $3 a loaf every week for non-store brand 100% whole wheat bread.
By all means, let's compare the prices of anything you want to compare and see whether the person in 1960 with that "real" dollar or the person in 2013 with that fiat dollar comes out ahead. We both already know the answer.
You're evidently just speaking for yourself. Who here wants to trade places with someone (in order to have the standard of living they had) in 1900? 1920? 1940? 1960? 1980? Any volunteers? Rationally, no one should want to do it, because it would be a much crappier life, and that is an undeniable fact. Your ranting about the destitute purchasing power of the dollar is just ignorant of reality.
meh ok, youre right, silver has never had any value, and all currencies throughout history have been subject to 1.5%-3% annual devaluation.
nobody ever traded their corn harvest for silver nor did they hold that silver until such time as they might purchase something else with it months or even years later since any money that's not working FOR you is working AGAINST you, and always has.
pirates never buried treasue since buried treasure LOSES value.
farmers never silo grains since storing anything causes it to LOSE value.
the russians arent currently sitting on a stockpile of diamonds because sitting on a stockpile of diamonds would devalue them over time
anyone who has gold is thorwing their Fiat money away, since fiat money is the measure against which all value is drawn, and always has been.
zimbabwe's economy is a first rate example of a sound, well run fiat currency economy, and thats why they are world leaders in finance, industry and technology.
yep. youre totally right. fractional reserve banking is the only way to go, and it "Creates value, unlocking the human potential"
economists are always the wisest and most intelligent members of the species, and they are always right, especially when they make contradictory assertions using the exact same evidence.
wall street is totally not a giant casino, and buying stocks on margin is like totally not wagering. it's an investment. and i bet you got a foolproof system too right?