There are several threads concerning the dollar, fiat currency, gold/silver, trade deficit, national debt, inflation, investments, etc. Let's define "dollar" so we are all talking about the same thing.
I would especially like to hear definitions from fans of the current system.
The Constitution mentions the term "dollar" inseveral places - when it sets the amount to be in dispute to guranatee a jury trial, for one. Since no "U.S." dollar existed yet, it had to be a piece of currency that was then in common usage in what would become the United States. The most common "dollar" in use at the time was the Spanish Peso, worth eight Spanish reals, hence the term "piece of eight". Since the good King of Spain wasn't above debasing his own currency, the United States fixed the "dollar" as being equal to 412.5 grains (26.73 g) of 90% silver. Of course, we have gotten far, far away from that, with predictable bad results.