Paul. It seems to me that when the dollar is melting down the wiser tactics would be to keep your dollar debts on hold (even increase them) and invest in some liquid goods (gold is included) instead. When it will stabilize at the bottom - you can repay your debts much easier. Am I wrong? IMO, it's obvious.

For the gold - I'm with Susan. First - you can not eat gold. Your neighbors can't either, so they will not buy it. You can't use it to buy something on a street market, to pay for labor individually, e.t.c. The only feasible way is to exchange it to some currency first (I'm excluding bulk purchases of industrial proportions). That means you will depend on a banksters mercy again. Second - its price is overinflated today, and that's not just because of weakening dollar trends.