All your repeated references to “Gold Standard” might be making exactly the opposite point I believe you’re trying to make. Any search of opinion on the matter considers it a discredited, antiquated, counterproductive system that is only endorsed by uneducated hacks. I guess politicians think it sounds impressive in a sound bite though.

http://http://mentalfloss.com/article/12715/why-did-us-abandon-gold-standard

I guess some of us might add that in addition to DOH being the “Gold Standard” we can add line bidding, step trading, ties and hats and the 737. We can hash all that out later but in the meantime I prefer to repeat a different mantra: “Let the arbs (and our pricey lawyers) do their jobs.”

Onward and upward!