Washington Whispers

If Dollar Dies, Most Choose Gold as the Replacement

November 3, 2009 RSS Feed Print

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By Paul Bedard, Washington Whispers

It hasn't been a dominating issue since the 1896 election of William McKinley versus William Jennings Bryan, but the gold standard might be making a comeback. The reason: If the slumping dollar is junked as the global trading standard, Americans think that gold is the best replacement.

In our latest Washington Whispers-Synovate-eNation poll, 49 percent chose gold when asked: "Which form of currency would be best if the world rejects the U.S. dollar as the standard for oil trading?"

Second was the euro, at 37 percent, recognition of the European economic powerhouses that use the united currency.

Leading the laggard choices was carbon credits at 9 percent. But maybe in a sign that Americans aren't pleased with China holding so much U.S. debt, the Chinese yuan came in last, at 2 percent. And that was bested by another Asian currency, the Japanese yen, at 3 percent.

The Whispers Poll

Which form of currency would be best if the world rejects the U.S. dollar as the standard for oil trading?

Gold: 49%
Euro: 37%
Carbon credits: 9%
Japanese yen: 3%
Chinese yuan: 2%

Source: The Synovate eNation Internet poll was conducted October 22-26 among 1,000 nationally representative households by global market research firm Synovate.