We have to figure out what we can make that is going be cool enough to sell at our prices.
There are so many many niches for all kinds of new materials, new devices, new technologies. WE may have to suffer a few more years before we get this basic economic fact.
Gold, oil, platinum, etc is not the answer, as you say.
Stuff is and will always be the back bone of any economy. We need to lead the way by making quality good stuff people will buy, not with planned obsolescence but with upgradable parts or return for upgrade or something.