"Standards are [just] paper."

He misunderstands how the world works. Standard is not just paper; standard is the thing. From this site: http://science1.wordpress.com/2007/04/26/matter-does-not-exi...

    For physicists Newton’s atomic materialism is blinding. 
    It will take many generations of humans to perceive that 
    standard is the thing. There is no “physical” world  
    other than standards and density differentials.