You are repeating the same uninformed argument that I've heard for 40+ years, and I am sure it goes back decades earlier than that.  Somehow the system of central banking in the US has survived by cranking up the printing presses as needed.  Besides, no matter how bad this event becomes, the US dollar will remain the most desirable on earth (all the others being so much worse). 

I agree, however, the system will fail at some point in time - could be in a few years, or a century from now.  But you are betting against history if you think it is going to fail now, especially as this downturn came when the country could not have been better prepared for it.  We remain the most durable and the most versatile economy on earth.

No worries, I understand that civil engineers and attorneys do not have to have any background in history or economics or business or leadership or public relations.