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Not saying the rest of your comment is right or wrong but this part sticks out:

> It's traded the world over by almost every country whether they want to or not. You can buy almost anything there is to buy with US dollars.

That's definitely not true. Most places in the world, I'd wager, do not accept USD, as you seem to think. I can't even begin to count the times I've seen clueless American tourists in South America, Africa, Europe and Asia trying to pay with their "highly regarded" USD and being denied with laughs. And then being shocked at the results.



I don't think the parent comment was referring to buying an ice cream cone, but rather things traded on the open market.


Lol almost no one in South America is laughing at USD. I've been to 3 of the 4 continents you mention and spent USD directly in all of them but Europe. Hello in many south america countries you get better prices even adjusted for true exchange rate because no one wants dog-shit <national currency> and it saves them a trip to the money-trader before their money turns into kindling.


You can also spend them in several places in Europe with ease, albeit at an exchange rate that means you should not.




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