Bernanke's plan could work. Congress could pass emergency legislation to suspend the payroll tax for two years stuffing hundreds of billions of dollars into the pockets of struggling consumers. The Fed could make up the difference by purchasing an equal amount of long-term Treasuries keeping the yields low while the economy resets, employment rises, asset prices balloon, and markets soar. As the economy rebounds, the dollar will steadily lose ground triggering a sharp rise in commodities and an increase in exports that will spark a clash with foreign trading partners. Then what?
Yes, Bernanke's "nuclear option" could help to resuscitate economy, but it could also erode confidence in the dollar leading to the untimely demise of the world's reserve currency. It's all a roll of the dice.(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).