Economics Question: Is Returning to the "Gold Standard" like spinning gold out of straw?

The simple answer is no as Ron Paul's "Restore America Plan" calls for passing a law that would allow gold and silver based currencies to exist (even other precious metals can be used IMO). Ron Paul likes to argue for returning to the Gold Standard but there is no such economic plan that could get us there so he should be arguing for greater stability in the currencies market by having precious metals based currencies. At least that is an argument more tailored for our time than 100 years ago.