This is not limited to money and banking --- these armchair generals now extend their valuable judgment to international trade. Like you, I had a discussion with someone whose "paradigm" for explaining the emergency of "global economy" rested on our abandonment of the gold standard. It appears to be a favorite for these conspiracy theorist.
This is what they indeed appears to be --- conspiracy theorist. Everything is easy to explain: a few people take over the government, abandon the gold standards, then sign NAFTA --- and we are dead. World government. Orville’s “1984”. The Jews.
To my opponent I tried to mention politely that one cannot explain by looking at money alone even a closed economy, let alone the export of capital. In a subsequent post, I suggested very politely that he take a course on economics. That's where all hell broke loose.
Having observed others "discussing" matters in the same pattern, I concluded that we are dealing hear not with people who desire to learn but "armchair generals." They do not want to rise through the rank of knowledge and disciplined thinking; it's much more appealing to pass the judgment on the world immediately.
But I have digressed. I mostly wanted to thank you for taking time to respond to the issues in such thorough and measured way and letting us partake of your expertise.