Why You Should Have Hope in 2026

While constantly predicting the inevitable decline of the dollar and the governmentally-entwined systems of commerce that our society is centered around is not often a joyful job, there are still some things that should give you hope for the state of our country and the world. SchiffGold is so often focused on the negatives because they are truly more urgent, there are still some Gleemer of hope on the horizon that could become extremely relevant at any point. Yes, the dollar will most likely devalue. Yes, the American people will continue to degrade the institutions that protect them. Yes, the federal government seems to show a little intention of ever returning to a manageable size, but a few tectonic plates are beginning to shift. Most people have begun to seriously suggest things about the Fed that would not have been possible even three years ago. The Fed’s inherent institutional instability is now plastered on the morning news anytime Trump and a governor go head to head. People no longer trust the Federal government at a higher rate than ever, and the impulse from both left and right to return power to more local sources has an appeal that will overcome the most centralized power structures. Finally, huge technological breakthroughs, and a growing rejection of pointless consumerism have the potential to put a new level of resources in the hands of people who can actually enjoy them.

When Trump began to question whether the Fed could deny his commands, he said something that, while legally untrue, recognized a hidden truth. The Fed has never been independent, and it is a good thing that Trump is calling attention to that, whether he means to or not. The uneasiness that everyone feels about having one individual in control of monetary policy will make it easier for people to see through the illusion of the Fed. Whether it’s Trump or the Board of governors, letting humans through coercion control the very currency in which all transactions are made simply gives them too much power. Those on the libertarian right have always known this, and now people on the left can see it too. Even people on the right now have precedent to worry that a president ideologically opposed to them can abuse the Fed, as Trump has been attempting to do. Only time will tell whether this will actually cause the Fed to restructure, but it has not faced more skepticism about a strength as an institution since its inception.…