It's pretty evident how we can pick cotton without slavery. We do it every day.
On the other hand, you want to expend resources digging a heavy, precious metal out of the ground to use as a glorified record-keeper of transactions. Seems like a huge waste.
Why not create it "out of thin air" as it is needed, and use the metals (and resources required to dig them up) on something else?
The error comes from thinking that money = wealth.
>With all debasement problems at least the precious metals system lasted thousands of years.
I don't think there's a country on the planet that will accept gold for financial transactions without converting to currency. So, no, it hasn't "lasted thousands of years"; it's gone.
>No wonder we've pressed the reset button every 40 years.
Pretty sure if you're anywhere in the First World you're part of the wealthiest, healthiest society that there ever has been.