The Swiss Franc <i>was</i> partially (40%) backed by gold reserves until 2000, when it unfortunately became 100% fiat like every other currency in the world.
I'm surprised to find we think a like. We are a nation of crises, as i suppose any nation that has a huge political inertia is. We only pay lip service to a problem and enact ineffectual popular "remedies" until the problem becomes acute -- then. finally, with our backs against the wall, we act. The question is: "how long can we play this game of brinksmanship before we find ourselves in an irretrievable situation? I like your expression: "synthetic war and fear." It says far more than might, at first glance. be realized. You might think of copyrighting that.