We all know the naked truth that it's up to you, the politicians, to strengthen the weak/high-risk fiscal and economic environment...the Fed really can't do your job ad infinitum/ad nauseam as it can't fix the economy by monetary policy alone, as re-iterated by Ben Bernanke today in his speech at Jackson Hole:
"As I have discussed today, it is also true that nontraditional policies are relatively more difficult to apply, at least given the present state of our knowledge. Estimates of the effects of nontraditional policies on economic activity and inflation are uncertain, and the use of nontraditional policies involves costs beyond those generally associated with more-standard policies. Consequently, the bar for the use of nontraditional policies is higher than for traditional policies. In addition, in the present context, nontraditional policies share the limitations of monetary policy more generally: Monetary policy cannot achieve by itself what a broader and more balanced set of economic policies might achieve; in particular, it cannot neutralize the fiscal and financial risks that the country faces. It certainly cannot fine-tune economic outcomes."
It's time for politicians to wake up, get out of bed, get dressed, and own up to your responsibilities by acting for the good of those whom you purportedly serve.
