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The Chart That Proves You’re Getting Poorer Even When Your Portfolio Goes UP!

Tom Bilyeu | September 1, 2026



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Welcome back to Impact Theory. In today’s episode, I dive deep into the wild ride happening right now in the bond market and what it means for the future of the US dollar and the global economy. The conversation focused on the so-called “resource curse”—comparing America’s role as issuer of the world’s reserve currency to regions that failed to capitalize on their natural resources, and questioning if this privilege is actually a double-edged sword.

One concept discussed is whether the benefits the US has reaped from dollar dominance have led us into fiscal irresponsibility and a dangerous dependence on selling money to the world instead of making real things at home. A key theme that emerged is how government strategies—like moving debt from long-term to short-term, flirting with yield curve control, and leveraging emerging tools like stablecoins—are designed to manage mounting debt but could have far-reaching consequences for people’s savings, investments, and the country’s economic future.

The discussion explored how inflation, rising interest payments, and global moves away from the dollar are creating new risks and uncertainties, especially for retirees and ordinary investors. Several points were raised, including the critical impact of trust in US debt, the erosion of manufacturing capacity, and whether these fiscal maneuvers are buying time or simply delaying a reckoning. Get ready for a no-holds-barred look at what’s happening behind the scenes—because understanding these moves is key to protecting your personal and financial future.

Written by Tom Bilyeu

Comments

This post currently has 44 comments.

  1. @FintechFatherAI

    September 1, 2026 at 3:16 pm

    I mean, RE getting rid of it… the young have nothing. and part of that is it gets so unsustainable with how the deficit works and how we become the most expensive labor and need to offshore everything. I would wonder if the young would notice a standard of living change even if it was adjusted? I suppose they would because a lot live with their parents and if they are then broke that will flow down (?)/ TL/DR: people say to remove it because how can the trajectory the youngest are on be sustainable anyway? And that comes from the reserve status.

  2. @bubbajones4522

    September 1, 2026 at 3:16 pm

    The dollar and all world fiat currencies are ponzi schemes nearing the end of their life cycles when debt interest exceeds the ability to tax and pay that interest (Debt to GDP). The tiny hat global banking cartel that controls all currencies is planning to collapse them all simultaneously so they can roll out their new digital currencies. The best play is to short these currencies via long term debt that can be paid later once the currencies become more and more worthless. Gold, silver and arable land are also good hedges.

  3. @wturber

    September 1, 2026 at 3:16 pm

    Using Gold as a comparison for "returns" over the last five years is cherry picking and is misleading given the huge increase in gold prices over the last five years. Sure, some of that is a real response to inflation. But plenty of that was/is speculation. Gold is not a stable measure of value. If you bought gold at the end of 2011, you would have had essentially zero returns over the next seven or so years. So be wary of people making comparisons to gold as if gold is some stable measure of value. It simply is not that stable over short runs of five years or so.

  4. @stephengee4182

    September 1, 2026 at 3:16 pm

    Gold and silver dramatically devalued in the generations following Christopher Columbus's 1492 voyage due to a massive influx of precious metals from the Americas. This phenomenon triggered a 150-year period of hyper-inflation across Europe known by historians as the Price Revolution

  5. @jamesroquemore2616

    September 1, 2026 at 3:16 pm

    This is a planned event to fundamentally shift the monetary policy and how we do things. The solution to keeping our economy from breaking is moving to a block chain currency with the government being the holder. I would not be surprised that this end of the dollar is also the final push to a cashless society. So here goes governmental control. A flick of a bit and your ability to transact will stop. Digital currency allows that level of control that a physical cash society does NOT have.

    Never let a good crisis go to waist. Especially when it's a manufactured crisis based on policies and decisions.

  6. @pamelademaray8555

    September 1, 2026 at 3:16 pm

    The problem with manufacturing is the people at the top don't want to share the wealth they are greedy. Example Walmart they make billions in profits a year while their employees have to have food stamps and medicaid because they don't pay them a living wage

  7. @eheff4868

    September 1, 2026 at 3:16 pm

    No matter who is in the White House, the collapse was coming. Our best chance is to force it so it's over as quickly as possible, and we maintain as much control as possible. Trump is taking one of the most risky economic moves in history, but at least he is trying something other than kicking the can down the road.

  8. @wturber

    September 1, 2026 at 3:16 pm

    It is interesting to note that our current situation with Iran started over this "curse of resources". Starting in 1933, the AIOC (would become British Petroleum) kept 84% (or more – they wouldn't allow audits) of the profits from Iranian oil. This eventually led to discontent, the Shaw fleeing to Great Britain and Iran voting to nationalize the oil industry after the AIOC would not renegotiate the 1933 deal. Rather than renegotiate, the U.S. (CIA) and Great Britain helped the Shah of Iran to re-assert power and reverse the trend in Iran towards democratic rule. The discontent over this and other issues festered and eventually led to the overthrow of the Shah's government. Unfortunately for the people of Iran, the new replacement government was probably worse than the one they got rid of. Maybe we should call that the "Curse of Revolutions." You never know how revolutions will turn out.

  9. @thedude7319

    September 1, 2026 at 3:16 pm

    01:01:05 shows the difference between the level of intelligence and wisdom tom has compared to drew. Then again, it takes everybody years to grasp. I am at awe just how patient tom is at explaining, he may not be a dad but sure has fatherly traits

  10. @nkapiariesjeffbeezos796

    September 1, 2026 at 3:16 pm

    There is no way to save the dollar. US debt cannot and will not be repaid, period. What a joke to think it would be.

    The question is what will happen to society and our culture when it happens. Will it happen fast or slow, chaos or no chaos.

  11. @Baked2chard

    September 1, 2026 at 3:16 pm

    😂 well I guess there is nothing more important than 30 years of planning, Gotta give the US govt et al coodos – Congrats Tom too bcuz I’m now watching 2 high end shows in 1 hour wrapped into 1 of my favorite themes

  12. @R-Woz

    September 1, 2026 at 3:16 pm

    How many Treasury's / bonds do you own if there such a great place to park your money?
    The fear of switching to a stable coin and losing control of your wealth is in play now.
    You made a whole show off Andre's video. He is brilliant but doesn't brag about it. 👍

  13. @achduke3651

    September 1, 2026 at 3:16 pm

    Could they make a crypto dollar of 100 Trillion to absorb the debt. Buy the debt plus a couple years of growth and then that is the max. No more then 100 Trillion and no more debt backed money. After we reach 100 Trillion no more crypto will be created. Then a slow unwind of deflation begins but they will need a balanced budget using taxes. No more printing money.

  14. @SirShiv7

    September 1, 2026 at 3:16 pm

    We're a country full of people that don't understand debt ruled by leaders that don't care about debt.

    America is cooked. I'm curious to see if it'll be secession, war or famine that leads to the ultimate Empire collapse.

  15. @datafoe626

    September 1, 2026 at 3:16 pm

    We keep focusing on the US. Have we examed the whole system from other countries' perspective? To them, the US is their "resource" that they depend on. We need to invent some new ways to reduce national debt. Can you break down the national debt by owners?

  16. @JustinArthur-d5h

    September 1, 2026 at 3:16 pm

    No no the american dollar is no more Bricks china and russia and 30 plus other countrys the people of earth have spoken it's unanimous the world will no longer have anything to do with the american dollar or economy china Russia have already started a currency based on gold america is late to the show. We in usa will soon be paying $20 for one onion cuz the democrats and Republicans. Tom is a CIA agent every word of this video is a fantasy. America is going to soon have to scrap the navy ships to sell the steel they have already sold our steel aluminum and forest industry to other counteys we have nothing what Hollywood? No you dont own that. It's all just a word salad. Dose he feel bad for polishing Trumps turds? Word salad. Fake human

  17. @TOEICTips

    September 1, 2026 at 3:16 pm

    The business culture, the wealthy, and finance industry won’t allow manufacturing to come back because it’s not profitable and not efficient for minimising tax. Labour is too cheap in other countries.

  18. @paulreed9144

    September 1, 2026 at 3:16 pm

    Vance is talking about converting the US debt to stable coins. Not actually changing the reserve currency status. If they convert it to stable coins, they can sell the debt and earn 3% interest on that conversion instead of paying 3 to 5% in bond yields.

  19. @DulayLomo

    September 1, 2026 at 3:16 pm

    2:06 Bessent: "Slow motion dedollarisation… initial stages be $ rally"
    Doesn't make sense. When Japan, Saudi central banks, state investment corps, corporates, individuals dedollarise, they will first sell their $ assets first to repay $ loans. So the outcome is likely little change on $ exchange rate but a big bear market for $ assets like US treasuries, shares of Mag 7, and US real estate.

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