The United States carries $38 trillion in debt, runs deficits, and prints money, all without facing the consequences that other countries would. This is possible due to the "exorbitant privilege" of being the country whose currency the world uses, leading to constant demand for American currency and cheaper borrowing costs. This privilege is maintained through the "petrodollar" system, where oil is priced exclusively in dollars.

Venezuela posed a threat to this system by selling oil in Chinese yuan instead of U.S. dollars, potentially showing that countries can function outside the American financial system. The pattern of countries facing intervention when switching away from the dollar system has been seen before, highlighting the significance of the currency in shaping international politics and trade relationships. Understanding these invisible structures can help individuals interpret global events more accurately and critically.