Every speck of gold a miner recovers is new wealth this country gains access to. The historic gold rushes added a level of wealth to the common man and an advantage in wealth that gave us technoligy. The mining laws of 1872 gave mineral RIGHTS to any citizen. Our current corrupt politicians are doing everything they can think of to undo and undermine these Great Laws
As gold was the preferred medium of trade for thousands of years it speeds development and facilitates trade. Its modern industrial properties should be increasing its value. Scams in the futures markets allow bankers to print paper gold certificates to manipulate the price of physical gold.
There is easily enough gold on the west coast of the US to enable these tech advances. Unfortunately this is locked away from us by shitty laws. Look at how the dredgers in Nome mine and ask why cant do the same in Ca and Or. Gold from rivers dumping into the ocean gone forever.