The 1971 Turning Point That Changed Everything
In this YouTube monologue, Mark Moss argues that the 1971 shift in U.S. monetary policy—marked by the abandonment of the gold standard and the onset of large‑scale money printing—triggered a cascade of inflation that underlies many modern societal problems. He cites the website “WTF Happened 1971,” noting that its charts show a flat line before 1971 and a steep “hockey‑stick” rise afterward for metrics such as income inequality, obesity, divorce, and the rate of unwed mothers. Moss contends that the efficiency gains from technology have been eroded because the increase in the money supply outpaces income growth, stripping away the American Dream. While he sees ending the current monetary system as a path to greater prosperity, he warns that a sudden “crash and burn” would be disastrous, advocating for a managed transition.
